Lisa Gile

Lisa was born on November 5, 1961, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Donald and Joanne Anderson. She grew up in Rushford, Minnesota, where she attended Rushford High School and was active in marching band and 4-H. Her interests included reading, sewing, playing piano, horseback riding, and spending time with friends who shared her spirited nature and love of adventure. After high school, she attended Rochester Community College and later made her home in Rochester, where she lived for more than 40 years before moving to Carver.

Lisa devoted her life to caring for others, especially children. She successfully operated a licensed in-home daycare for nearly three decades, touching the lives of countless families and helping raise generations of children with love, compassion, and patience. She was also deeply involved in her own children’s lives, serving as a Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and chaperone on band and orchestra trips to London, New York, and Washington, D.C.

A woman of many talents, Lisa was a gifted seamstress and cook who was always effortlessly put together, bringing warmth and beauty to everything she did. She was remarkably creative, with a knack for crafting and making beautiful things for those around her. She had an eclectic appreciation for music, embracing many styles that reflected her vibrant spirit. Her reading interests were similarly diverse, including classic, historical, and gothic literature that she returned to throughout her life. She had a lifelong passion for British history and culture, especially Britcoms, and her enthusiasm for travel reflected that same curiosity about people, places, and stories around the world. Holidays were among her greatest joys—Halloween most of all, when she handmade costumes and created magic for her children. Christmas came close behind, full of the same warmth and imagination. She loved animals, travel, and time with loved ones, especially her dearest friend Mona (together known, with affection, as “MonaLisa”).

Lisa is survived by her children, Jessica (Brian) Hutchings, Jennifer (Mark) Johnston, Jaclyn (Christopher) Schleper, and Jared Gile; grandchildren Tristan, Lorelei, Natalie, Elinor (“Nora”), and Carter; sister, Michele (Robert) Wick; special nieces and nephew Stephanie (Scott) Groh, Elizabeth (Julius) Wolf, and Nathan Wick; and many other nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her former husband, Brian Gile, the father of her children. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Anderson, and is survived by her mother, Joanne Anderson.

A funeral service will be held at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in Peterson, Minnesota, on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Visitation will be from 12:00–2:00 p.m., followed by the funeral at 2:00 p.m., with a graveside ceremony and refreshments to follow.