John S. Gillis Jr, age 78 of Chamberlain, SD formerly of Dunseith, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at a Chamberlain hospital. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 7, 2024 at 10:00 am at the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Dunseith.  His wake will be Monday starting at 5:00 pm at the church.

John was born in Bottineau, ND, on February 8, 1946, to John and Lucy (Davis) Gillies. He was one of Fifteen children and the last remaining child of the John and Lucy Gillis Union. He attended elementary school at Dunseith Day School in Dunseith, ND, and Stephan Boarding School in Stephan, SD. He later attended Flandreau Boarding School for high school in Flandreau, SD, graduating in 1963. After graduation, John married Karen (Starr-Perkins) on 12-19-1964 at St. Louis church in Dunseith, ND; they had just celebrated a 60th anniversary. John was very active in life- he played basketball and football and ran track. He always rode his bike down trails in Kansas, hunting and fishing. He had a green thumb - he loved gardening, planting flowers, and growing his yearly delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, corn, okra, and peppers. He loved working with wood and made horseshoe racks that were beautifully stained. John had a strong work ethic and was a mason for 43 years. He worked in many states within the United States and was always on the go, helping erect many buildings and structures. John was a farrier and loved horses, which he raced and shoed. This was one of his life's passions that he loved very much. He was also an avid sports fan and loved the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas Jayhawks; there was always a game to watch with his kids. He was a dedicated father to all five of his children.

He is survived by his wife Karen (Starr-Perkins) Gillis, son Dean Craig (Lawrence, KS), and daughters Shannon (Chamberlain, SD), Angelique (Bismarck, ND), and Johnette (Bismarck, ND). He had 10 grandchildren: Savanna (Josh), Nathaniel (Anne), Justine, Craig, Victoria, Hunter, Stacia, Jonathan, Connor, and one angel baby. Six great-grandchildren: Sage, Scout, Saylor, Grant, Avory, and Lakyn. Godchildren: Floyd (Frenchy) Lavendure, Cindy (Gillis) Lafloe, Cheryl Poitra, Brandi Gillis-DuBois, Cindy Quam, Megahn Gillis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lucy Gillis, Son, Dave Donovan Gillis, and Brothers Frank, Raymond, David, Clifford, Fred, Joseph, and Peter, and his sisters Viola Grinnell, Millie Crasco, Mary Ann Hamley, Margaret (Peggy) Belgarde, Geraldine Luhr, Phyllis Schock, and Angelique Olmscheid.