James F. Gillen

Age 96, of Warsaw, passed away on February 5, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo following a brief illness.

He was born February 13, 1927 in Warsaw, son of the late Joseph and Ethel Herington Gillen. Jim was a graduate of Warsaw High School Class of 1944 and graduated from the New York Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences at Buffalo, NY in 1949. He was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in the US Navy from 1944-46. On February 3rd, 1951 Jim married the love of his life Julia Bush.  Supporting their family for thirty-three years, Jim owned and operated Gillen & Wellman Surveyors, retiring in 1990. He was a life member of the Genesee Valley Land Surveyors Association and a member of Surveyors Historical Society.

One of the most defining characteristics of James Gillen was his civic mindedness, he found great importance and pleasure in supporting the community that he had been born and raised in.  Jim was a member of St. Michael’s Church in Warsaw and served as a trustee of the church for many years. He was a sixty-five year active member and past president of the Warsaw Kiwanis Club. He served for thirty-two years as a member of the Warsaw Town Board. Jim served for many years on the Board of Directors for the former Wyoming County Bank and the former Genesee County Bank. In recent years, Jim has been an active member of the Friends of the Warsaw Public Library and was instrumental in many of their fundraising efforts, gathering his entire family annually to fundraise and participate in the Kiwanis Grape Stomp.

He was a member of both the Warsaw and Castile Historical Societies. Jim recently fulfilled one of his life’s goals to author and publish a book on Wyoming County Gold Star veterans.  He was shortly after inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame for his service and his lifetime of advocacy for area veterans.

Jim was an avid wrestling fan and was an active supporter of the Warsaw, LeRoy and Attica Central School wrestling programs.  He was a great supporter of all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their many varied pursuits and passions and truly loved nothing more than being able to spoil them all.  Jim was an avid storyteller in equal parts fiction and non-fiction and although these stories were told best in-person they were quite often shared in hand written and mailed letters.

He spent a great deal of time in the great outdoors hunting and fishing with his sons, berry picking with his wife or simply caring for and relaxing at his cabin.  He also spent many days with his “adopted” Amish family.

James F. Gillen truly had a life well lived.

Jim was predeceased by his wife, Julia Bush Gillen; his daughter, Christine Condidorio, his son, Joseph Gillen and infant son, Michael Gillen; brothers, Joseph (Peggy) Gillen and Daniel “Dick” (Blanche) Gillen.

Surviving are his children, Kathleen Carlson of Springville, John (Deborah) Gillen of Warsaw; daughter-in-law, Brenda Gillen of Warsaw; son-in-law, Joe Condidorio of LeRoy; his grandchildren, Ryan (Jennifer) Carlson, Rachel Carlson, Jennifer (Brandon) Jenkins, Stephanie (Charles) Voorhees, Jacob (Cassi) Gillen, Lindsay (Nate) Redden, Zachary (Meghan) Condidorio, Chad (Melly) Condidorio, Reilly (Ben) Schwenebraten; fifteen great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; dear friend, Sharon Geraci of Warsaw.

Friends may call Friday, February 9^th 2024 from 1pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at Robinson And Hackemer Funeral Home, 246 N. Main St., Warsaw. Jim’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 10^th 2024 at 11am at St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, 171 N. Main St., Warsaw. Burial will follow with military honors at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Warsaw. Please attend the luncheon following the funeral service at the Valley Chapel Fellowship Hall, 3415 Route 19S, Warsaw where Jim will be Eulogized and there will be an opportunity for you to share your memories. Memorials may be made to the Friends of the Warsaw Public Library, 130 N. Main St., Warsaw, NY 14569 or the Charlotte House, 4316 Route 98, North Java, NY 14113.