Phyllis Gildersleeve

LIMINGA – Longtime area resident, Phyllis Gildersleeve, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, Wisconsin.

She was born on November 15, 1934, in Crystal Falls, Michigan, daughter of Peter and Marion LeGault. Phyllis attended Michigan Technological University, where she graduated with a BS in Physics in 1956. She also studied for her master's degree and then taught physics at Michigan Tech.

On September 8, 1956, she married the love of her life, George Gildersleeve, who she met while attending MTU. They made their home in Dollar Bay, MI where they raised their children and were married for 53 years before his passing in 2009.

Phyllis enjoyed sewing, knitting, making dolls, gardening, and following her sports teams, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Tigers.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Margaret (Jack) Dunstan, Marilyn Leiman, Laurie (Randy) Aho, Daniel (Karla) Gildersleeve, and Cheryl (Lou Crabtree) LaBranche; 17 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Bruce (Carroll) Gildersleeve, and sister-in-law Joanna Gildersleeve.

She was preceded in death by her husband George, her parents, son-in- law Jeffrey Leiman, brother Robert (Virginia) LeGault, brothers-in-law Wayne (Marian) Gildersleeve and Tom Gildersleeve, and sister-in-law Beverly (Ron) Ball.

A celebration of Phyllis’s life will be held Saturday May 9, 2026, at the Stanton Township Fire Hall 16847 Fire Hall Rd., Houghton, MI 49931, from 4 to 6:00 pm.  Please join her family to share stories and memories of Phyllis.  

Arrangements are being handled by Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service in Hancock. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at memorialchapel.net.