James Joseph Gilleo

James Joseph Gilleo, known as “Gunny”, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 21, 1933. He passed away at the age of 84 on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Three days after what would have been his wife, Teresa’s, 83rd birthday.

Gunny joined the Marines in March 1951. He did a tour of duty in the Korean War and two tours of duty in the Vietnam War. Prior to those tours, on October 16, 1953, Gunny was on guard aboard the USS Leyte while it was under conversion to an antisubmarine carrier. The USS Leyte suffered an explosion in her port catapult machinery room. Within minutes, naval base and city fire trucks were on the scene. Gunny, being injured, was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Knowing there were others still on the Leyte, Gunny jumped out of the ambulance and rushed back to help rescue several people.

In 1955, while serving in Subic Bay, Philippines, he found the love of his life, Teresa. They were married a year later and were together for 57 years before her passing in 2013. In 1957, they moved with their newborn son, George, from the Philippines to Boston, Massachusetts, where their second son, James, was born. His service career took him to several places, including Quantico, Virginia; Danang, South Vietnam; Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville), North Carolina; and finally to Mayport (Jacksonville), Florida. In 1966, they established their home in the Arlington area. Three years later after arriving in Jacksonville, Florida their third child, Patrick, was born. In December 1970, Gunny retired from the United States Marine Corps at the rank of GySgt (which is where he gets his name “Gunny” from). After retiring from the Marines, Gunny decided to go to school where he earned an AS and an AA from Florida Junior College. In 1972, while in school their fourth and last son, Robert, was born.

Having four sons, two degrees and retired from the Marines, Gunny was ready to start a second career. In 1974, knowing he was “too old” at the age of 41, he joined the Office of Sheriff as a corrections officer. He continued in that career in various positions and levels ending in the Robbery Division in 1994 where he retired from the Office of the Sherriff. But he wasn’t ready to fully retire. Gunny returned to the Sheriff’s Office with his wife Teresa and they volunteered together until her passing in 2013. He decided to finally retire in 2014 after a total of 40 years with the Office of the Sheriff.

Living in Arlington for over 50 years, Gunny was very active in the American Legion Post 283 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 283 where he served both the Post and the Squadron in various positions, including Chaplin and Commander. He also volunteered in his sons’ schools, including Arlington Heights, Brentwood, Douglas Anderson, Arlington Junior High and Terry Parker High School.

Gunny was preceded in death by his beautiful wife and love of his life, Teresa Arigo Gilleo, in 2013. He is survived by his four sons (George Francis (Davie) Gilleo, James Almario (Oksuk) Gilleo, Patrick David (Michelle) Gilleo and Robert Joseph Gilleo), his three granddaughters (Elaine Gilleo (Kevin) Watkins, Darlene Cho Gilleo and Kaitlyn Anna Gilleo), and his grandson (Justin Michael Gilleo). Immediate family members include his parents, George Joseph Gilleo (deceased) and Marguerite Mary Sheehan Gilleo (deceased); his three sisters (Catherine Mary (Richard Paul) Smith, Ann Gilleo Higgins, and Regina Marie Gilleo Cheeves), his brother (Francis Anthony (deceased) (Mary Rettman) Gilleo) and ‘The Cookie Man’ Jim Rudy.

The family will receive friends and celebrate Gunny’s life at the Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St Johns Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, Florida 32225 (904-641-9755) on Monday, January 22, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. All are also welcome to join the family for burial on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32218-1247. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations: Jacksonville Ladies (http://www.jacksonvilleladies.org/); Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (http://www.nmcrs.org/) or the Prayer Shawl Ministry of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church (http://www.glennumc.org/).

Arrangements are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS CHAPEL HILLS FUNERAL HOME & MEMORY GARDEN, 850 St Johns Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, Florida 32225.