Donna Elizabeth Gillem

September 1, 2020 at 9:49 p.m.

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SYRACUSE – Donna Elizabeth Gillem, 88, of Syracuse, passed away at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at Goshen Hospital.

She was born on April 16, 1932, in Allegan, Mich., to Clifford and Edna Lucille Porter Austin.

She graduated in 1950 from Portage Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., and received an associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She retired in 1994 from Circuit Court in Kalamazoo, Mich., after 11 years, formerly worked at Bell Telephone, and moved to the Syracuse area 22 years ago from Michigan.

She attended Wawasee Heights Baptist Church in Syracuse, formerly attended the Baptist church in Michigan and was a former member of Red Hat’s Club in Syracuse.  

She is survived by daughter, Shannon Gillem, of Michigan City; five sons: Patrick (Sylvia) Gillem, of Centerville, Mich.; Ted (Martha) Gillem, of Milford; Shawn (Marcia) Gillem, of Cromwell; Timothy Gillem, of Travelers Rest, S.C.; and James Gillem, of Richmond, Texas; two sisters: Nancy Forster, of South Haven, Mich.; and Sharon (Michael) Moran, of Vicksberg, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shelly Gillem; and eight sisters and brothers.

Cremation will take place at Cremation Services of Kosciusko County, 4356 N. Ind. 15, Warsaw. Private family burial will take place in the Syracuse Cemetery.

Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, is in charge of arrangements.

*****

Preferred memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

To send condolences to the family in memory of Donna Gillem, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.



SYRACUSE – Donna Elizabeth Gillem, 88, of Syracuse, passed away at 5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at Goshen Hospital.

She was born on April 16, 1932, in Allegan, Mich., to Clifford and Edna Lucille Porter Austin.

She graduated in 1950 from Portage Central High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., and received an associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She retired in 1994 from Circuit Court in Kalamazoo, Mich., after 11 years, formerly worked at Bell Telephone, and moved to the Syracuse area 22 years ago from Michigan.

She attended Wawasee Heights Baptist Church in Syracuse, formerly attended the Baptist church in Michigan and was a former member of Red Hat’s Club in Syracuse.  

She is survived by daughter, Shannon Gillem, of Michigan City; five sons: Patrick (Sylvia) Gillem, of Centerville, Mich.; Ted (Martha) Gillem, of Milford; Shawn (Marcia) Gillem, of Cromwell; Timothy Gillem, of Travelers Rest, S.C.; and James Gillem, of Richmond, Texas; two sisters: Nancy Forster, of South Haven, Mich.; and Sharon (Michael) Moran, of Vicksberg, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Shelly Gillem; and eight sisters and brothers.

Cremation will take place at Cremation Services of Kosciusko County, 4356 N. Ind. 15, Warsaw. Private family burial will take place in the Syracuse Cemetery.

Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, is in charge of arrangements.

*****

Preferred memorials may be given to the donor’s choice.

To send condolences to the family in memory of Donna Gillem, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.



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