Gilbert Hill Jr.'s Obituary
Gilbert Hill Jr., age 84, passed away peacefully early Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at home after courageously battling cancer. He was born on December 12, 1935 to Gilbert and Vivian (Burgess) Hill Sr in Muskegon, MI and has lived here his whole life. He was a faithful servant of Our Lord and had attended St. Thomas Catholic Church for a long time. He was a journeyman carpenter by trade working for various places over the years. On April 12, 1958, he married Karen Cook and together they cherished 44 years together. She preceded him in death on January 13, 2002. Gilbert later married Leila Nicolet and she also preceded him in death. Gilbert was known to be a strong-willed man who eluded independence. He also had a sarcastic sense of humor that filled a room with laughter and brought a smile to your face. In his earlier years, he loved riding horses, specifically Broncos. Gilbert was an avid walker and enjoyed the outdoors. He enjoyed hiking various trails or taking a daily 3-5-mile walk. He also had a sweet tooth; you could usually find him with a frosting jar and a spoon; this is a trait he passed on to his grandchildren. Above all things, he loved his family and friends. He was a tender-loving soul who will be missed by all that knew him. He is survived by his 4 children, Michael (Ann) Hill, Bryan (Melissa) Hill, Tim Hill, and Cynthia (George) Gokey; 4 step-children, Sheila (Michael) Beam, Pamela (Bill) Ballor, Joe (Doreen) Nicolet, and Ron (Margo) Nicolet; numerous grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; sister, Sandy (Hector); and brother, Dwayne. He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Karen Hill; 3 children, Christopher Hill, Charles Hill, and Becki Gillett; second wife, Leila Hill; and 2 sisters, Bee and RoseMarie. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 2:00PM at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444 with visitation one-hour prior. Services are limited to 80 people and masks are mandatory. An inurnment will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Gilbert’s honor can be made direct to the American Cancer Society. Please share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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