John "Jack" Solon Gillfillan

John (Jack) Solon Gillfillan passed away on February 27, 2023 to be with our Lord. Born on Wednesday, November 6, 1929, in Brazil, Indiana, he was the son of the late Donald Matthew Gillfillan and the late Nina Jenkins Gillfillan.

Jack spent all of his youth in the same home. He enjoyed a wholesome, small-town upbringing, with a paper route beginning at the age of 12. Jack’s father was the owner and operator of a Shell gas station in Brazil, Indiana – and sparked his son’s entrepreneurial spirit at a young age.

Jack graduated from Brazil High School in 1947 and went on to attend college at Indiana University – special thanks to his Uncle Solon for inspiring Jack’s future philanthropic generosity by providing the funds for not only Jack’s education, but all his nieces and nephews as well! Jack enjoyed his days as a Hoosier and proudly served as president of his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, during his senior year. He participated in the Air Force ROTC program throughout college, attending basic training between his junior and senior year. In 1951, Jack graduated with a degree in business.

The summer following his college graduation, Jack married his high school sweetheart, Suzanne (Suzie) Burkhart. With the Korean War raging, Jack was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a 2nd lieutenant. He was stationed in Tachikawa, a small town near Tokyo, Japan, where he served as a materials officer. Jack completed his tour in 1953 as a captain, returned home and became a father in 1956.

Jack explored a number of career paths, working at one time as an encyclopedia salesman and later as a railroad worker. He eventually secured a position in Elkhart, Indiana with a company named NIBCO. With this job, Jack began his lifelong career in the pipe, valve and fitting business. Sadly, his first wife, Suzie, became ill and died in 1967.

In June of 1968, Jack married Sieglinde K. Hansen and moved her along with her two daughters from Charlotte, North Carolina to Elkhart, Indiana. The abundant snow and cloudy days led the family to jump at a chance to move to Atlanta, Georgia a year later. Jack would go on to spend the next 53 years of his life in Atlanta.

In 1976, Jack realized his dream of running his own business and became the owner and president of Sunbelt Marketing, Inc. Under his leadership, the business did extremely well and Jack earned the respect of his employees and other industry leaders across the country. After a long career as president, he took on the position of chairman of the board. Jack officially retired in 2008, and his legacy at Sunbelt Marketing continues to flourish today.

Although he “quit working”, Jack remained active. He and Sieglinde made regular trips back and forth to their home in Highlands, NC. The couple loved spending time in the beautiful mountains and dining with friends at Highlands Country Club. Jack also stayed busy as part-time gardening assistant to Sieglinde.

Throughout his life, Jack served in a variety of civic roles, including as treasurer of the Atlanta Opera. He became a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club in the late 1990s and attended weekly Monday meetings for nearly 20 years. Jack stayed active throughout his retirement, avidly walking with Sieglinde several days each week and, until recently, playing golf every Thursday with a regular group of friends at Dunwoody Country Club (DCC). Further, Jack loved the Lord and studied His Word every Friday morning for years with his fellow “7-Uppers” in Bible Study at DCC.

Major beneficiaries of Jack’s philanthropy are the Atlanta Humane Society, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society and Wesleyan School. Jack’s generosity further touched the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Opera, the Shepherd Center, Meals on Wheels, Project Open Hand and Andee’s Army.

Jack is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Sieglinde Katharina Gillfillan nee Wirth of Muhldorf am Inn, Germany; by his (Jack’s) children, Thomas Allan Gillfillan, and Dea Ann Gillfillan; by his wife’s daughters, Angela Sieglinde Stadnick and her husband, David and Pamela Hansen Menefee and her husband, Tom; as well as by his grandchildren Natalie Sieglinde Stadnick-Uhl and Stephanie Stadnick Hall (husband, Aidan), Nicholas Kieffer Menefee (fiancee, Lily Friday), Jacob Thomas Menefee and Joy Scholla and great grandchildren, Joseph Uhl and Mirella Hall.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at two o’clock at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mt. Vernon Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Following the memorial the family will gather for a private graveside service at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Atlanta Humane Society, Shepherd Center or Wesleyan School .