Marlene June Gillette

Marlene June Gillette, 87, quietly entered the presence of her Lord on May 24, 2023 from her home in Berrien Center, Michigan.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 31, at Berrien Center Bible Church, where she was a member. Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the funeral will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Bill Zebell officiating. Burial will be in Long Lake Cemetery. Messages and memories may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.com.

Marlene was born December 10, 1935, weighing only 3 pounds, in Niles, the daughter of Raymond and Marcielle (Johnson) Deitrich. She graduated from Niles High School and married Donald George Fisher on May 21, 1955. Following his death on July 18, 1956, Marlene married Kenneth Fisher on March 1, 1957. In 1970 she married Dwight Gillette who died December 19, 2009.

In addition to being a homemaker and raising her children, she worked at The Green Lantern, Schraders, and Pagel’s Packing House, all in Berrien Springs. Marlene spent countless hours on inland lakes and rivers fishing with Dwight. She loved cooking for the family and enjoyed making fish fries, Egg Rolls/Chop Suey, and grilled burgers and hot dogs for get-togethers. They were always enjoyed by everyone. Dwight and Marlene also searched for morel mushrooms every Spring, both here and up north. One year they brought home a whole trunkful! Those were fried up and shared with the family too. The hamburger stuffed-ones were delicious. Another favorite was her strawberry jelly she made each year. She adored her kids, grandkids and extended family and a favorite thing for her to do was spend time with them.

Marlene enjoyed going to church and went on many outings with her friends from there. She volunteered with the Berrien General Hospital Auxiliary for a number of years. She was kind to everyone she encountered. When you were in her presence, you always felt loved.

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, George Fisher and Dwight Gillette; daughter, Cynthia Archer; son, Karl Fisher; and grandson, Ehren Archer.

Survivors include her children: Matthew Fisher, William (Kim) Fisher, Thomas (Jodi) Fisher, Andrea Gillette; grandchildren: Lesley (Dan) Bonofiglio, Ryan (Tanda) Archer, Joshua Fisher, Steven (Tracy) Spenner, Jason (Jamie) Spenner, April (Jay) Wagner, Paula Fisher, June Deitrich, Meghan (Billie) Holbert, Cyndi Fisher, Mallory (Ben) Cabe, Grace (Nathan) Shinault, Andrew (Lynnae) Fisher, Katie Nichols; great-grandchildren: Thea Bonofiglio, Nora Bonofiglio, Taylor (Spenner) Strobel, Rebecca Spenner, Natalie Spenner, Steven Spenner, Emmaline Wagner, Easton Wagner, David Wedde, Oliver Cabe, Eleanor Cabe, Annabelle Cabe, Felix Cabe, Elliot Shinault, Phineas Shinault, Adalyn Shinault, Lucy Fisher, George Fisher; and sisters: Susan Stucky of Georgia, Sandra Barinka of South Carolina, Lori (Kevin) Bjork of Minnesota.