John E. Gillette, age 68, born on September 18th, 1944 passed away peacefully with family at his side after an extended illness on August 26, 2013. John served a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star for actions he has never revealed. John worked in the family automobile business in Belleville for many years and ended his work career in the building trades and landscape industries. Through his life he enjoyed many weekends camping and boating with family and friends and many trips to the Western United States. John is survived by his son Jason (Jennifer) Gillette, a brother Tom (Jennifer) Gillette, two sisters; Margaret (Dave) Mezera and Jane (Eric) Christen. He is further survived by three nieces; Marie (Jeff) Ditzenberger, Marcie (Josh) Hoeltke, and Mary (David Deicher) Mezera, two nephews; Matt (Lea Bahr) Mezera and Scott (Megan) Christen. He was preceded in death by his parents Eddie and Mary (Gerard) Gillette. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI. An inurnment service with military honors will be held at the Frenchtown Cemetery following the gathering at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home. The family would like to pass along a big thanks to Brooke and the rest of the Monroe Clinic Hospice team for their very successful efforts in keeping John comfortable at home for as long as possible.