Willis A. Couillard

1928-2023

Willis A. Couillard, 94 of Gilman, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church-Gilman with Pastor Brian Beardsley officiating. Interment will follow in the Donald Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service on Saturday. Plombon Funeral Service assisted the family with arrangements.

He was born on Dec. 15, 1928 at his family’s home in the Town of Pershing; Taylor County. He grew up in the Donald area. He married Catherine Creaser on May 29, 1950 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheldon.

Willis and Catherine moved to Round Lake Beach, Ill. in 1950 and began to raise their family. Willis worked as a machinist at McLean Fogg for many years in Illinois before moving the family back to Wisconsin in 1977. Once back, he became the Head Custodian for the Gilman School District where he served in that role until his retirement in 1995.

Not a man to sit idle, when not at work, you could usually find him tinkering around the house fixing things. A patient man, there was not much that he couldn’t find a way to fix. His patience also served him well in another thing he loved to do: fish. Either from shore or from a boat, Willis could be found with a line in the water when time allowed. Before the passing of Catherine, you also could find them often looking for a place to square dance.

When not fishing or fixing something around the house, Willis could often be found playing pretty much any card game someone would play with him. Although, that someone was often hard to find as he would rarely lose. As he aged, Willis found a passion in doing puzzles, especially the 3D type, which he proudly displayed at Romig’s Hardware Store in Gilman.

Willis is survived by his children, Kathy Johnson of Columbia, Ky., Duane (Sherry) of Olympia, Wash., Craig (Sarah) of Third Lake, Ill., Jeffrey (Doreen) of Tenino, Wash., and Chris (Nikki) of Pewaukee; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, one greatgreat grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Catherine; his parents, a grandson, Michael Clark; his brothers, Harold, Dorwin, George, Raymond “Pete,” Leo “Jack,” and Gerald; and his sisters, Mae Utegaard, Nathail “Dolly” Gorsenger, and Edna Hinkel.

Paid Obituary 138612