David E. Gilland

David E. Gilland, age 79, of New Philadelphia, died Friday, August 21, 2015, in Aultman Hospital, Canton, from complications following heart surgery.

Born November 26, 1935, in Jackson, Ohio, he was the son of the late Wilford and Marie (Martin) Gilland. David attended Jackson High School and moved to Tuscarawas County at the young age of seventeen. He went to work for Haas Body Shop in Dover, which he came to own and operate for more than thirty years. The business is now owned by his sons. Even in retirement, and right up to the time of his illness, David stopped in the shop every morning to lend a hand or just to see what was going on and talk with customers and employees.

He was the loving husband of Joanne (Ritenour) Gilland, whom he married on New Year's Eve 1954, and was her devoted caregiver for the past 14 years. David took great joy in his family - his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and their accomplishments.

David enjoyed the outdoors, fishing in tournaments with his son, Steve, grandson Steven Jr. and son-in-law, Ron. He also liked watching and feeding the birds around his home. David enjoyed stock car racing as well, and he was inducted into the Midvale Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. He followed NASCAR, and liked going to the dog races at Wheeling Downs.

He will be sadly missed by his wife, Joanne; his daughters, Debra Wade, Connie (Michael) Popovich and Lisa (Ron) Dague, all of New Philadelphia; his sons, Michael (Maggie) Gilland also of New Philadelphia, and Steven (Michele) Gilland of Mineral City; his eighteen grandchildren, Maria (Steven) Haberman, Michael (Stacie Metcalf) Gilland Jr., Wes (Angie) Gilland, Amy Chapman, Jackie David (Leslie Hughes) Korns, Tara (Brandon) Thomas, Julie (Daryl) Adelman, Michelle (David) Aubihl, Jennifer (Kent) Price, Jordan (Mickey) Kent, Sydney, Alexis, Steven Jr., Lukas and Jake Gilland, Nicole (Jesse Raber) and Kelsie Henry, and Brooke Dague; his nineteen great-grandchildren; his nieces and nephews; and the many friends he made over the years.

Besides his parents, his half-brother, Phillip Gilland, preceded David in death.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial gathering in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center, 831 Boulevard, Dover, Sunday, August 30, between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m., to visit, share memories, have a bite to eat and celebrate David's life in a way he would have wanted. To sign a guestbook and share a fond memory online, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the Toland-Herzig website.

David's family suggests that contributions in his memory be made to the charity of the donor's choice.