Constance "Connie" Gillis

Constance “Connie” Marie Gillis, 79, of Vasa, died Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at her daughter’s home in Lake City where she has resided and been cared for by Andrea for the past several years. She was born on November 13, 1945 in Willmar, MN to Edmund and Hazel (Mortenson) Schwartzwald. She graduated from Osakis High School in Osakis, MN and then from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. For a short time she taught at Stewartville Schools. In 1968 she married William Gillis, Jr. Shortly after, they moved to Ohio for a number of years and then to Vasa in 1979 where they raised hogs. They later divorced.

Connie loved water skiing and swimming, including swims across Lake Carlos in Alexandria with her sister and a few times with her son Edmund. She was an active member of Vasa Lutheran Church and was a 4H leader for the Vasa Happy-Hustlers. She enjoyed doing ceramics, crafts, wood working and reading. Her favorite movie was The Sound of Music and she was an avid watcher of Gunsmoke and Little House on the Prairie. One of her favorite past times was going to the State and County Fairs while enjoying the animal shows, especially the rabbits. She even attended a National Rabbit Show in Colorado with her son Kyle.

Connie was very proud of her “Scanda-Hoooovian” heritage and was always talking about loving lutefisk and rommegrot. Her grandchildren could never get enough of her home made Chinese food, especially the egg rolls. She was also very proud of calling Chrysler products her “vehicles” of choice.

Connie is survived by her three children, Edmund (Erica) Gillis of Kasson, Kyle (Paula) Gillis of Vasa and Andrea Gillis of Lake City; seven grandchildren, Lydia, Peter and Timothy Gillis, Braeden and Owyne Gillis, Mikyle Gossett and Beibhinn Winn; one sister, Sharon (Bruce) Olson of Vasa along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother Edmund Schwartzwald, Jr. and one granddaughter, Katherine Gillis.

A memorial service will be held in Spring/early Summer of 2025. Arrangements are by the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.