Donna Ruth Gillis, 58, passed away September 21, 2020 after a year and a half of battling cancer. She spent her last moments at home, cared for and surrounded by family. Donna was a devout Christian and even with her cancer diagnosis, her faith only grew stronger. She always said that no matter what happens it will be a win-win situation; either she will beat cancer or be in heaven. She is with God in heaven now, free from pain.
Donna was born on September 8, 1962 in Auburn, New York. When she was in first grade she and her family moved to Baldwinsville, New York and then again, in fourth grade, to Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1980, she graduated from Snider High School and then from Indiana University in 1984 where she studied dental hygiene. She worked as a licensed dental hygienist for ten years and then as a relator in Colorado for thirteen.
On September 6, 1987, she married Daniel J Gillis III, LtCol (Ret) and they began to move around the world following his military and airline career. Her husband was her favorite person and best friend. On September 6 they celebrated their 33rd anniversary. They loved traveling the world and being together.
Dan and Donna have two children: Matthew Grant Gillis and Shannon Lee Gillis.
Donna was very involved in church and her kid’s school activities. She gladly volunteered for activities such as teaching children’s Sunday school, chaperoning school trips and camping, participation in the PTA, completing the Steven Ministry Program at her church, and teaching water aerobics.
Being the outgoing and creative person that she was, she explored many hobbies such as sailing, flying airplanes, skiing, world traveling, playing pickleball, riding horses, painting, and scrapbooking.
For the past six years, she and her husband have been living in Guam. While there, she was living her best life scuba diving along the coral reef, hiking through the jungles, jumping off waterfalls, snorkeling with manta rays—turtles—and–octopus, and traveling around Asia.
A memorial will be held September 27 at 1pm at:
Happy Hollow Park
1301 Happy Hollow Road
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Shelter House #4
There is a large covered shelter with tables surrounded by open space for social distancing. Please bring a chair for seating.