Robert "Joe" Joseph Gilling, Jr.

Robert Joseph Gilling Jr., or Joe as many knew him, age 56, passed away at home on June 29, 2021 due to kidney failure, a complication of pancreatic cancer.

Joe was born in De Pere, Wisconsin on October 9, 1964 to the late Margaret and Robert Gilling. He grew up in Hudson, Ohio, before relocating to Hilton Head as a young adult, where he worked as a firefighter for Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue for 25 years.

Many people didn’t know that Joe was battling pancreatic cancer, as he didn’t want to worry or upset anyone. He wanted everyone to live their life to the fullest, to enjoy what they had, to stay positive. Joe packed in trips in his Sprinter van RV, visits with friends and family, new hobbies like baking every sweet treat under the sun, cheering on his beloved Green Bay Packers, and trips to the North Carolina mountains. He focused on maximizing and enjoying the world, exactly what he wanted everyone else to do.

Joe is survived by his wife, Michele Iverson, his daughter Meghan (Martin), his son Patrick, and his siblings.

The family will be having a private, family-only funeral mass. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

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