Gary Gilman

Gary Gilman, 81, of Waco, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.  A celebration of Gary’s life will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Antioch Community Church with Pastor Carl Gulley and Janet Ross officiating.  Please bring a dish to share at a potluck right after the service where we will share stories and memories of Gary.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to Wildlife Forever (www.wildlifeforever.org/donate).

Gary’s life was an epic journey depicting the love of God and how Jesus blessed his life again and again.   He was born in Windsor Canada and became a naturalized American citizen on December 6, 1966.  In 1960, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and his life changed.  He attended the Detroit College of Applied Science until 1962 and then enlisted in the United States Air Force for four years.  He was an electronic aircraft technician working on Inertial Navigation Systems at McGuire AFB in New Jersey.  His honorable discharge as Sergeant was in April 1966.

In 1964, he married his childhood sweetheart Janell Peterson.  This year they celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss.  

Throughout Gary’s professional life, he worked in several industries such as the mobile home industry as a buyer, owning his own business in construction building and remodeling homes, a program buyer in the aerospace industry working on multiple missile systems such as the Phoenix missile.  He was part of the SAP implementation team for L3 and the City of San Antonio and owned a Curves Franchise attaining Franchisee of the Year in 2007.

While Gary held many titles in his life, his favorite roles were husband and father.  He loved nothing more than spending time with his children and grandchildren and traveled endlessly to be involved in their lives.  He was always present and available with love, wisdom, support and kindness.  His infamous fudge and divinity at Christmas gatherings were the stuff of family legend.  In his retirement, Gary and Janell spent time cruising, scuba diving, hunting and fishing and being involved in several boards for organizations that support family values and assistance.  

He always left people better than they were before he arrived.  In his own words, “without Christ in my life, none of this would be possible.  I have been blessed with children and grandchildren when doctors said I would have none.  Even when businesses failed and creditors called, we have never gone without food and shelter.  I have seen impossible circumstances become possible and tragedy become great blessings.   I pray that you look to God for your help and comfort.  He is a great God and he cares for you!”

His memory will be forever held in the hearts of his surviving family: his wife, Janell Gilman; son, Kevin Gilman and his wife, Dee of Sand Springs, OK; daughter Becky Henry and husband, Troy of Greenville, TX; grandchildren, Keagan and Irelynd Gilman, Kade Gilman-Lemons, and Gabriel Henry; as well as a sister and brothers.   He is preceded in going home to be with Jesus by daughter Melanie Gilman.