John Arthur Gill

John Arthur Gill, age 85 , died at the Hospice Care center in Fitchburg, WI.   John was born in Dubuque, Iowa on May 4th, 1925 to Marie C. Dunn and Arthur Henry Gill Sr.   A few years later the family moved to Madison and started Gill's Menswear on State St.   John attended St. Raphael's school, Edgewood highschool graduating in 1943.   He joined the US Army that summer as a Medic in the 2nd Division.   John landed at Omaha beach, Normandy 3 days after D-Day.   He was proud of his military service having survived two months of battles.   He was wounded at Vires, France on Aug. 4th 1944 by German artillery. He carried some shrapnel in his body lodged near his heart for 66 years.   He made five trips to Europe and was honored by the last two sitting US presidents.  After the war John completed a BA in Economics at UW-Madison and later taught at St. Rapheals and Aldo Leopold grade schools for over 20 years. He married Elizabeth Ann Walker in 1969 in College Park, Maryland.   The settled in Madison, WI and raised two sons David and Timothy.   John was a devout Catholic and long time member of St. Raphael's Cathedral and the parish council.   He volunteered at St. Marten House Soup KitchenJohn received many awards. He frequently visited friends and relatives at St. Nazareth House in Stoughton.  John loved sailing the lakes, camping, swimming, and traveling with friends and family whom he both loved and was loved by dearly.   He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and his sons, sister in law Josephine Gill, and numerous nephews.   John was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Arthur Gill, and his sister Dorothy Prasser.   A visitation will be held from 4 until 6:30 pm on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd   Madison, WI , followed with a Rosary Service at 6:30.    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at ST. MARY OF THE LAKE CATHOLIC CHURCH,   5460 Mary Lake Rd., Westport/ Waunakee, 53597, with visitation from 9:30 am until the time of Mass. Thanks to Dr. John Morledge, Dr. Kilpatrick and other staff at UW Health, Meriter Hospital and HospiceCare. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in John's memory be made to the Catholic Multicultural Center (formerly St. Martin House), at 1862 Beld Street, Madison, 53713 for their program to feed the poor or to St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church.