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Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille

When the Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille, pastor of the Holy Trinity parish, La Crosse, officiated at the golden wedding ceremony of his parents here Monday morning, he gained the distinction of having conducted marriage rites for his four sisters, a brother, and his parents.  Celebrating their 50th year of marriage were Mr. and Mrs. George Gille. They renewed their vows before their son in the St. Mathew’s Catholic Church here.  During these rites, Mrs. Dave Chisholm, Rockford, Ill., attended the couple as she did here 50 years ago. Best man on that eventful day back in 1889 was Henry Aurit, Mankato, Minn. He was unable to be present but his place was taken by Patrick Boyle, brother of Mrs. Gille.  10 Children  Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gille, four of whom died in infancy. The six surviving children, all of whom were present at the ceremony Monday, are Mrs. J.c.Cooney, Mrs. Joseph Eugene Freemon, and Mrs. Alfred Daters, Warren, Ill.; Mr. John Gille, Shullsburg, and Fr. Gille, La Crosse. Eleven grandchildren also were in attendance.  Mrs. Gille’s brothers, Neil, Edward, and James Boyle, all of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Mr. Gille’s sister, Mrs. J.C. Radican, of Huntington Park, Calif., were present.  Mrs. Gille is 69 and Mr. Gille is 75.  Banquet Held  Following the services at the church, they gathered at the Knights of Columbus hall where a banquet was served at noon. During the afternoon reception and open house were held at the Gille home on Kennedy St.  Mr. and Mrs. Gille have been lifelong residents of this immediate vicinity, and have lived in this city for 20 years.

Revered Monsignor C. W. Gille

Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille (November 04, 1890 – April 18, 1975) 85, former vicar general of the dioceses of La Crosse, died April 18, 1975 at St. Anne Hospice, Winona, where he had been living since retirement in June of 1969.  Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille; served as vicar general of dioceses and consultor.  Mass of the Resurrection was concelebrated by Bishop F. W. Freking on Monday, April 21, 1975 in the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman. Fr. Thomas E. Mullen, pastor of St. Stephen in Stevens Point, delivered the eulogy.  On the previous Sunday afternoon, the people of SS. Peter and Paul Parish met his body at the church at 2 p.m., and participated in a Mass of the Resurrection at 3 p.m. celebrated by Fr. Andrew Karoblis, who had succeeded him as pastor in 1968. Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille had served SS. Peter and Paul parish from 1946 until he resigned in 1969\8.  A third mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Tuesday morning at St. Matthew church in Shullsburg, his family home, by Fr. Raymond F. McAleer. Burial was in the family lot at Shullsburg, Wisconsin.  Revered Monsignor C. W. Gille had been a diocesan consultor since 1947, and vicar general of the La Crosse diocese from 1948 until 1973.  Revered Monsignor Charles W. Gille was born November 4, 1890, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Gille of Shullsburg, Wisconsin. He attended Marquette high school and university, then entered St. Paul seminary in Minnesota for theological studies. Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille was ordained there June 1, 1919.

Revered Monsignor Charles Wm. Gille served 10 years as pastor in his first appointment t St. James in Vesper, with mission churches

at Arpin, Altdorf and Sigel. Then after four years at Ellsworth and three at Bloomington (now in Madison diocese) he was named pastor of Holy Trinity in La Crosse and dean of the La Crosse county deanery.  Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille was named pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Wisconsin Rapids in 1946, land the same year was named a diocesan consultor. He remained there until he resigned as pastor in February of 1969\8 and took up residence at St. James rectory in Wausau as an associate pastor. Then in June of 1969 he retired from active ministry and moved to St. Anne hospice in Winona, Minn.

Both in La Crosse and in Wisconsin Rapids, Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille became famous for the number of people who enter the church through his efforts and convert classes. In 1950, for example, the late Bishop John P. Treacy conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 110 adults from SS. Peter and Paul parish and the new Queen of Heaven parish which had been organized by Fr. Joseph Tetzlaff, now pastor at Mosinee.

Revered Monsignor C. W. Gille was named vicar general of the diocese in June of 1948 by the late Bishop Treacy, and was named a domestic prelate with title of Monsignor in June of 1949.
Under Revered Monsignor Charles W. Gille’s direction the parish undertook construction of a magnificent new church of stone in 1951, to replace the wooden structure built in 1869.
In 1962, Pope John XXVIII named Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille to the rank of Protonotary Apostolic, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a diocesan priest. This office enabled him to celebrate Pontifical Mass, and to confer the sacrament of Confirmation, which he did with the late Msgr. J. Francis Brady, PA, during the absence of Bishop Treacy at the Vatican council. On the

death of Bishop Treacy in October, 1964, Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille was elected diocesan administrator, a post he held until Bishop F. W. Freking was installed as Ordinary February 23, 1965.
Bishop F. W. Freking reappointed him to the board of diocesan consultors and as vicar general in 1965, and named him to the council of administration for the diocese. He retained these posts until his retirement in 1969, and he remained vicar general until 1973.  Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille celebrated his 55th anniversary as a priest July 10, 1974.  Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille had been a member of the building committee for Holy Cross seminary, which was dedicated in 1952. In 1950 he accompanied the late Bishop Treacy in the Holy Year pilgrimage in Rome.

Among his survivors are three sisters, Mrs. Al Daters of Warren, Illinois, Mrs. Zita A. Freemon of Chicago, and Mrs. Paul Ruble of Naperville, Illinois. A brother preceded him in death.   Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille celebrated the solemn funeral Mass for his father, George W. Gille, who died here on Wednesday, December 15. Bishop John P. Treacy of La Crosse was present in the sanctuary at the funeral services which were held Saturday, December 18 in St. Matthew’s church. Officers at the Mass were Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille, celebrant: Fr. Michael McQuaid, deacon and Fr. John De-Rocher, subdeacon.  Mr. Gille, one of the oldest residents of the city, is survived by two sons, Father Gille and John L. and four daughters, Mrs. C. J. Cooney, Mrs. Joseph Eugene Freemon, Mrs. Alfred Daters and Mrs. Paul

By the grace of God; I am; what I am; a Priest forever.

Ruble and one sister, Mrs. Clara Meade.  SHULLSBURG—When the Revered Monsignor Charles William Gille, pastor of the Holy Trinity parish, La Crosse, officiated at the golden wedding ceremony of his parents here Monday morning, he gained the distinction of having conducted marriage rites for his four sisters, a brother, and his parents.  Celebrating their 50th year of marriage were Mr. and Mrs. George Gille. They renewed their vows before their son in the St. Mathew’s Catholic Church here.  During these rites, Mrs. Dave Chisholm,

Rockford, Ill., attended the couple as she did here 50 years ago. Best man