George "Willy" Gilis

George “Willy” Gilis, 87 of Reno, Nevada, passed away on 7 February 2023 following an unforeseen diagnosis of Leukemia. Georges was born to Theodor and Martha Maria Gilis-Gybels in Tessenderlo, Belgium on September 6, 1935. He worked in various restaurants as a busboy & waiter and served in the Belgian Army from 1953-1955. In the summer of 1958 George immigrated to the United States with longtime friends from the Frisan Family, arriving by ship in Hoboken, NJ on August 19, 1958. From there he made his way to California on a Grayhound bus. Once he arrived in California George stayed with the Frisan Family and worked at The Pantry, a famous LA restaurant as a waiter. George was introduced to his future wife Kathleen by a friend, he was so enamored by her beauty and told her he was going to marry her one day, to which she responded Yeah you and who else?”. Eventually they were married on July 25 1970, and soon after welcomed their first child, Tricia. In short work, the family grew to seven with the births of Marya, Aaron and twins Adriaan and Bryan. George worked hard to make sure his family was taken care of and loved. The family eventually moved to Truckee California, where George worked in Reno, NV at the Sahara Casino as a waiter in the show room. His hard work and determination led him to achieve the position of a Maitre’d and was later invited to work in Atlantic City, NJ at a Steakhouse in The Claridge Casino where he would be named Best Head Maitre’d consecutive years in a row throughout his career. The family called home to Egg Harbor Twp, NJ until George retired back out west to Reno, NV. The desert was where George felt most at home loving the Wild west from a young age reading Louis L’Amour novels. Outside of his professional life, George found joy in cooking meals for his family, gardening, watching Western and Classic black and white movies, watching & feeding the wild life animals and sitting under his tree talking to those he loved and lost. George also enjoyed going out into the desert searching to find items left behind by settlers and Native Americans. To which some of is finds were used in his “Wild West” creations. George “PaPa” is survived by his children and family, Mary Patricia & Harry Hewitt, Aaron Gilis, Adriaan Gilis & Sirada Kanangkul, Bryan Gilis & Heather Olsen. His 13 grandchildren: Marinn and Husband Erik Greis, Faith, Devin, K’lee, Darren, Ashley, Kaden, Ashton, Emma, Emily, Colton, Peyton and Kamden. Great grandson: Draven Greis. Sisters: Yvonne Gilis and Jacky (Leo Dewit). Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws and the Frisan Family, Longtime family Friend Ellen Kraus. And many more family and friends in the USA and Belgium that all love him and will miss him dearly. Georges is preceded in death by his Loving wife Kathleen Gilis and daughter Marya Gilis-Panuska. His parents Theodor and Martha Maria Gilis-Gybels, mother in-law Mary P Stephenson and many other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you spend time having family dinners or enjoying the great outdoors with your loved ones in George “Willy” memory. Georges will be greatly missed by family and friends. The memories we have will never be forgotten. “Just another day, another dirty shirt” We love you

Tributes

George "Willy" Gilis

September 6, 1935 - February 7, 2023