It is with deep respect and admiration that we remember the life of Will Gill, Jr., a devoted family man, proud veteran, and lifelong contributor to agriculture in Madera County, who passed way August 21.
Will dedicated more than 81 years to Madera County agriculture, leaving behind a legacy rooted in hard work, perseverance, and love for the land. His family, originally from Iowa, migrated to Porterville, California, in the 1870s, where their agricultural journey began. By the 1940s, the Gill family’s ranching operations were thriving in both Porterville and Madera. Following the passing of his father, Will and his wife, Jane, moved from Southern California to Madera to manage the family’s ranching and farming interests.
Soon after, Will was called to serve his country during World War II. He proudly served as a U.S. Army sergeant in the Military Police in the China-Burma-India Theatre. After the war, he returned to Madera in 1944 and resumed work in the family’s crop and livestock business, managing oat and alfalfa hay, cows, and cattle operations.