Leon ‘Poppy’ Gilliam, 74
March 19, 1937 — Nov. 21, 2011

Leon “Poppy” Gilliam, 74, of Cassopolis, died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011.
He was born March 19, 1937, in Calvin Township to Arthur and Eliza (Goins) Gillam. He married Lillie Mae Lee in Cassopolis on March 8, 1959.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years and was honorably discharged in 1957.  Leon was employed by Kinder for more than 25 years, and later retired from Hackney in Elkhart, Ind.
Leon was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Leon is survived by his wife, Lillie Mae of Cassopolis; seven children, Natalie Davis of Grand Rapids, Richard Lee of Cassopolis, Sonya Dungey of Cassopolis, Leon (Jennifer) Gilliam of Edwardsburg, Robert (Peggy) Gilliam of Cassopolis, Teresa (Ricky Evans) Gilliam of Cassopolis and Tanya (John) McKnight of Cassopolis; 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Grace Wares of Plainwell and Nancy (Dennis) Pruitt of Cassopolis; and one brother, Donald Gillam of Cassopolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one great-grandson, Alphonzo Lee; two sisters, Rose Seeney and Patricia Gillam; and four brothers, Arthur Gillam, Jr., Paul Gillam, Ace Gillam and Duane Gillam.
Family and friends will gather Saturday, Nov. 26, at Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis, from noon until time of service at 1 p.m.
Interment will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Cassopolis with full military honors by members of the U.S. Army and the combined honor guards of the William E. Lozier VFW Post 10704 and the Efton James American Legion Post 206, Cassopolis.
The family prefers memorial contributions be made to the family c/o Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway St., Cassopolis, MI 49031, to help defray funeral expenses.
Arrangements have ben entrusted to Connelly Chapel, Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis.
Online condolences may be to wagnercares.com.