Harriet Ethel Gill

Mrs. Alfred Gill
Harriet E. Matson
921 S. Kernan Avenue
Appleton

Age 77, went to live with her Lord, Tuesday afternoon, March 13, 2001, following a brave fight with a brain tumor. She was born April 2, 1923, to the late Hjalmar J. and Ella B. (Stark) Matson, in Birnamwood, WI. She resided in the Birnamwood/Shepley area throughout her childhood and graduated from Tigerton High School in 1941. Harriet moved to Milwaukee, where she contributed to the WW II effort, as a metal fabricator. On June 1, 1946, she married Alfred Gill (the love of her life) at St. Paul Church in Wittenburg. They resided in Appleton their entire married life, in the home they built together. Harriet’s family was the focus of her life. She and her husband were involved in car restoration and showing their prized Model T Fords. Harriet was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Rachel Circle, she was a Bible Study Leader and a Sewing Circle member her entire life, where she sewed many quilts for Lutheran Missionary projects. Harriet is survived by her husband, Alfred Gill, to whom she had been married for 54 years. Harriet and Alfred are the proud parents of twelve children, James (Andrea) Gill, Fort Meyers, FL; Judith (Richard) Plisch, Marshfield; Edith (Dennis) Nack, Minnetonka, MN; Russell Gill, Greenville; Joanne (Larry) Shepherd, Minneapolis, MN; John Gill, Minneapolis, MN; Rodney (Roxane) Gill, Stevens Point; Margaret (Paul) Benlon, Merriam, KS; Carol (Joseph) Schroetter, Appleton; Diana Gill, Waikiki Beach, HI; Linda (Greg) Woldt, Appleton; and Daniel (Doreen) Gill, Hortonville. Harriet was the proud and loving grandmother of 18: Turi Plisch, Charlotte, NC; Brent Plish, Winona, MN; Jonathan and Michelle Nack, Minnetonka, MN; Geoffrey Shepherd, Little Rock, AK; Jeremy Shepherd, Minneapolis, MN; Christine and LeeAnn Gill, Stevens Point; Jennifer and Jeremy Schroetter, Appleton; Bryce and Spencer Benlon, Merriam, KS; Joshua, Adam, Zackery and Tyler Woldt, Greenville; Travis and Jacob Gill, Hortonville. Harriet is survived by two sisters, Helen Spolarich, Sacramento, CA, and Irene Johnson, Neenah. She is further survived by step grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Danielle Gill and Kristofer Schroetter and a sister, Betty McDonald. Funeral services for Harriet will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, March 16, 2001, at ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, 912 N. Oneida Street, with Reverend Nathan Gauerke officiating. Burial will be in Appleton Highland Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4-8 pm, Thursday, and on Friday at the church from 9:00 am, until the time of the service. A memorial fund is being established.

Harriet will be remembered for her loving, caring and gentle way in which she touched the lives of many, and her deep and abiding faith, which guided her through her life journey, Mom, you taught us:

“A hug is the perfect gift: One size fits all and no one cares if you exchange it.”

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
Tri County Chapel
3212 South Oneida Street
Menasha 831-9905