Jane Gilles

Jane Gilles, 81, Breckenridge, MN formerly of Wahpeton, ND, passed away Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at CHI St. Francis Healthcare, Breckenridge.  Visitation will be Friday, June 8, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at St. John’s Catholic Church, Wahpeton led by Fr. Patrick Parks.  Following the prayer service, there will be a rosary led by the Catholic Daughters.  The Funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 11:30 am at the Church, with visitation one hour prior to service.  Rev. Dale Lagodinski will officiate. Burial will be at a later date at Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Mary “Jane” Rowland was born in her grandma’s house in Beardsley, MN, on February 20, 1937 to Arlie and Lillian (Frey) Rowland.  She grew up in Beardsley and graduated from high school in Wheaton, MN.

Jane was united in marriage to Francis Gilles on September 27, 1958 in Wheaton. They moved to the family farm by Great Bend ND. To this union, seven children were born.  Throughout her lifetime, Jane was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, active as a Circle leader, Catholic Daughters’ member (former Regent) and taught CCD. She also was a member of Farm Bureau, the Pork Producer’s Auxiliary (past president) and was a 4H leader.  Jane enjoyed reading, cooking and visiting with family and friends.  Jane and Francis moved into Wahpeton in 1993. The entire family enjoyed spending summers at West Battle Lake, MN.

Our mom, grandma and great-grandma was the strong yet tender-hearted backbone of our family.  She loved us all and through her words and actions shared her great values with us.  We were proud to call her Mom, and so were the many others she welcomed into her heart and home.

Jane is survived by her children, Laurie (Bill) Straus, Wahpeton, and their children, Lacey (Jake) Hodny and Lauren (Brock) Lemer; Mary (Darryl) Schmidt, Bismarck, ND; Sandy (David) Korinek, Gary, SD and their daughter, Peyton; Kelly (Lisa) Gilles, Wahpeton, and their children, Sydney (Adam) Mandour, Christopher (Hunter) Patton, Aren O’Kelso, Cole Gilles, Beau Gilles, and Emily Braught; Barry (Adella) Gilles, Wahpeton, and their children, Alex, Madison, and Emma; Stacy (Tim) Brandner, Mentor, MN and their children, Kennedy, Maggie and Arleigh; Aimee (Kyle) DeVries, Wahpeton, and their children, Jacob and Jackson; five great-grandchildren; one brother, James (Rita) Rowland, Bovey, MN and sisters-in-law Theresa Kubela, Audrey Gilles, Angeline Gilles and Florence (Ken) Peterson.

She was preceded in death by her husband Francis on May 26, 2018; her parents, Arlie and Lillian Rowland; her brother Tom and his wife DeLayne Rowland, her brother Dick Rowland and sister-in-law Carol Mesker.

If you wish, in lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the St John’s Building Fund, which will be used to provide a weather protected entrance for the front of the Church.

Jane's Memorial Folder