Jean was born on January 4, 1926 to Roy and Minnie Seaholm. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Edison High School. After high school she attended the University of Minnesota. She started her career in a secretary pool and eventually moved up to supporting executives as an Executive Secretary at Sperry Rand and Honeywell.
She married Jerome (Jerry) Gilles on June 25, 1955 at Messiah Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and were blessed with two children, Michael and Karin. They lived in Minneapolis until 1960, at which time they built a home and moved to Andover, MN. It was here that they finish raising their children Mike, Karin, and welcomed their third child, Kristi, to the family. As a mom, Jean was very loving, patient, kind, hands on, and was known to keep her children busy with baking and crafts.
Her early years were defined by her love of biking, camping and baking, and later on her children and grandchildren. In her youth she was an avid bicyclist and enjoyed long trips with her bike club, including an adventure in which she biked from Grand Marais, MN to Minneapolis, MN. While she loved biking, her true passion was baking. She loved to bake breads, bars, fudge, cookies and cakes, much to the delight of her kids and grandchildren!
She also loved all things Swedish. She passed down her family’s Swedish Christmas traditions to Mike, Karin, Kristi, and their families, including an annual trip to Ingebretsen’s for meatball mix, lingonberries, lefse, and potato sausage. The rolling of Swedish meatballs is an activity that her family continues to enjoy, including “stealing” them out of the pan as they cook.
Jean was also a charter member at Grace Lutheran Church in Andover, MN and active with 4-H as an area leader. Later in life Jean was diagnosed with dementia and eventually transitioned to a care facility in St. Louis Park, and then eventually Elk River where she resided for many years.
Jean is preceded in death by her Parents, Roy and Minnie; Brother, John; Husband, Jerry; Son, Mike.
Left behind to celebrate her life and legacy are her Daughters, Karin (Pat) Snyder of Big Lake, MN and Kristi (Kevin) Mollet of Edina, MN; Grandchildren, Josh Gilles, Tia Gilles, Coltin (Kara) Gilles, Brandon Gilles, Lacey Gilles, Kalaya Gilles, Justin (Amber) Gilles, Kyle Snyder, Hunter Snyder, Jackson Mollet, Cooper Mollet; 18 Great-grandchildren; Nieces, Suzy Seaholm and Kathy Du Vernoy; Daughter-in-law, Donna, and many Cousins in the United States and Sweden.
The Gilles family would like to thank the wonderful staff of Guardian Angels in Elk River for all the years of care, kindness and friendship that was shown to Jean, as well as the hospice team that helped in caring and comforting her.
~Celebration of Jean’s Life~
July 6, 2018 at 12:00 at
Gearhart Anoka Funeral Home.
Visitation one hour prior to the service.
Following a light meal, interment will be at Crystal Lake Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.
In lieu of flowers memorials preferred or donations to the Alzheimer Association.
