Harry G. Gillette, 81, of Milford passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at his residence. He was born on October 12, 1944, in Watseka, the son of Ellis and Blanche (Jessee) Gillette. They preceded him in death along with his in-laws, Byron and Betty Kern, and two brother-in-laws, Joe Eckersley and Byron Larry Kern.
Harry married Sandi Kern in Watseka on August 16,1983 and she survives.
Also surviving are three children, Donna (Randy) Hiltz of Milford, Bopper (Stacey Smith) Gillette of Stockland, and Becky (Sean) McCalla of Milford; grandchildren, Jamie (Darren) Bakken of Sheldon, Jennifer Mowrey of Atlanta, Georgia, Jesse Gillette (Ryan Covarrubias) of Bourbonnais, Hannah McCalla of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Kendall McCalla (Chris Ford) of Urbana, Grace Smith (Luke McCabe) of Watseka, and Ella Smith of Watseka; great-granddaughter, Cecelia Bakken of Sheldon; Also surviving are his two sisters, Punk Eckersley of Cissna Park, Tink (Gary) Voss of Cissna Park and many nieces and nephews.
Harry was a lifelong farmer and at the age of 8, he drove his granddad’s first combine. Harry graduated from Milford Grade and High School. During his school years, he was an athlete and member of the FFA. He received the Parliamentary Procedure Award and the State Farmer Degree, the same award his dad received. At the age of 18, Harry rented his first 80 acres and began farming on his own. In 1980, Harry purchased a tidewater plantation farm, “Belle Isle Farm”, in Virginia and farmed in both Illinois and Virginia for 10 years before selling Belle Isle Farm. Harry was very active in the community having served on the Milford School Board and Milford Township Board. He helped organize the first FFA Hog Roast in 1980 and helped establish the Milford 4-H Club. He also served as superintendent of the swine barn at the Iroquois County Fair for many years. Harry and his wife, Sandi, worked together on everything: on the farm, in their catering business, and as Federal Crop Adjusters for Country Companies for 18 years.
A Celebration of Life will be held on the Gillette Family Farm on Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Arrangements are by the Knapp Funeral Home in Milford.
