James W. 'Jim' Gillen

Town of Lee- James W. Gillen, 80, of the Town of Lee, Brantingham Lake and New Smyrna Beach, Fla, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Utica. He was born in Collinsville, on April 2, 1934, a son of Francis and Laura Weiss Gillen. Jim grew up in Boonville and on Rt. 26, West Leyden; he graduated from West Leyden Central School with the Class of 1952. While in high school, he excelled at playing Basketball. From 1954, until his honorable discharge in 1956, Mr. Gillen served his country in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and in California, during the Korean Conflict. For over thirty years Mr. Gillen was a life insurance agent for Prudential Life Insurance Co. of Rome, retiring in 1993. Since the 1940's Mr. Gillen had spent much time at Brantingham Lake; for many years until the present time he was the owner of Gillen Rental Cottages at Brantingham Lake. In June, 1973, Jim was married to Linda Anderegg. She died on March 1, 2008. Mr. Gillen was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Lee Center, Rome Elks Lodge # 96, Lee Center American Legion; he greatly enjoyed boating on Lake Delta, Brantingham Lake, and in Florida; he was a member of Lake Delta Yacht Club and Griffiss Ski Club. For many years, until the age of 77, Jim was an avid skier. He was a long time member of Woods Valley Ski Area Ski Patrol and he also enjoyed skiing at Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin. He is survived by one son and daughter in law, James W. and Vicki Gillen, Brantingham Lake; three sisters and two brothers in law, Mary and Donald Shue, Sherry Smith, all of Boonville, Barbara and Mark Kovach, Brantingham Lake; four brothers and two sisters in law, John and Catherine Gillen, Lakewood CO, Douglas Gillen, Beaver Falls, Michael Gillen, CO and Patrick and Lori Gillen, Brantingham Lake; a sister in law, Lorraine Gillen, Rome; a brother in law and his wife, Carl and Elaine Anderegg, Lee Center and a nephew and his wife, Jason and Megan Anderegg, Ava, a niece and her husband, Karen and Brad Rowland, Lee Center. He was predeceased by two brothers, Dennis, in 2013, Robert, in 1971 and by a sister in law, Kathy Gillen, in 2013. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Sean Patrick O'Brien, on Tuesday at 9:00 A.M. at St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, with interment to follow in Brantingham Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday 4-7 p.m. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to the 3 G Fire Company, Glenfield, NY 13343. For an on-line message of sympathy, or to share a memory of Jim, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com