Peter L.

Gilles

Peter L. Gilles

Peter passed away peacefully on November 6, 2026, following a multi-year battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Peter was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the oldest son of Walter Jacob and Isabel Gilles. He graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. He went on to attend graduate school at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he met his future wife, Mary E. Wiltse. They were married in Falls City, Nebraska.

Peter and Mary later moved to Florissant, Missouri, where Peter began a new chapter in his career at McDonnell Douglas Astronautics. After ten years, they relocated to Plymouth, Minnesota, where Peter began a 33-year career with Honeywell Systems and Research Center and later Alliant Techsystems.

Peter was a longtime member of the Military Operations Research Society, where he presented numerous defense-related papers at the organization’s annual symposiums.

Peter was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents; and his brother, Walter Gilles, and special sister-in-law, Barbara Gilles.

He is survived by his daughters, Mary C. Gilles-Schmidt (Rob) and granddaughters Kelcy and Kylie, of Germantown, Wisconsin; and Susan J. Crowder and granddaughters Callie (Steph) and Laci, of Franklin, Tennessee. He is also survived by his brothers, Richard Gilles (Deb) of Chilton, Wisconsin, and James Gilles (Maria) of River Falls, Wisconsin, his devoted partner of nine years, Brigetta Quinn, and bonus daughter, Lisa Edberg (Steve).

A private memorial service will be held at Wayzata Community Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Wayzata Community Church, the American Lung Association, or a charity of the donor’s choice.