AUSTIN -- A funeral Mass for Reuben Herman Gilles will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of St. Augustine in Austin, with the Rev. Joe Fogal officiating. Burial will be in Visitation Catholic Cemetery in Stacyville, Iowa, with military rites by American Legion Post No. 91 of Austin and American Legion Post No. 569 of Stacyville.
Mr. Gilles, 87, of Austin, died Tuesday (October 5, 2004) at his home of complications of emphysema and heart failure.
He was born July 18, 1917, in rural New Haven, Iowa, grew up in Stacyville, Iowa, and graduated from Visitation Catholic Elementary and High School. After working at the local creamery, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1937 to 1939. He jointed the U. S. Army in July 1941. He was assigned to Corps II and the 19th Engineer Combat Regiment and spent the duration as a water-filter operator. His time overseas was spent in Ireland, England, North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Release from the Army came in July 1945. This career left him with seven battle stars after 30 months overseas. On Aug. 8, 1945, he married Ardella Emma Rauen at St. Augustine Catholic Church. The couple has lived in Austin for 59 years. Mr. Gilles attended Austin Vocational School and served as a journeyman sheet metal worker for more than 35 years. He spent much of that time as a furnace and boiler repair technician. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Foresters and the American Legion Post No. 91. He enjoyed singing in the Adult Choir for many years.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Harold (Susan) Gilles of Portland, Ore, and Kevin (Juanita) of Plymouth; four daughters, Norma (Charles) Willmarth of Bradenton, Fla., Eileen (Patrick) Hines of Eagle Lake, Minn., Dolores (Gary) Nelson of St. Cloud, Minn., and Cynthia (John) Vyrosteck of Hudson, Wis., 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Theresa (Greg) Langenfeld of Dunlop, Iowa, and Elizabeth Hemann of Stacyville, Iowa; and one brother, Paul (Gertie) of Waterloo, Iowa. Four brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
There will be a 4:30 p.m. KC rosary and a 7:30 p.m. wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home in Austin, where friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
