Jill Proctor

Jill Proctor, born on June 26, 1954, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on January 25, 2025, following a brief illness at Advent Hospital in Tarpon Springs, Florida. She is lovingly survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, Britt Proctor of Tarpon Springs, Florida; her daughters, Erin (Cornell) Joseph of Big Lake, Minnesota, and Erica (Toby) Erdmann of Becker, Minnesota; granddaughters Amaya and Ava Joseph of Big Lake, Minnesota; and step-grandchildren Tyson, Tianna, and Devon Erdmann. She is also survived by two former international exchange students who have remained an integral part of her family for the past 30 years—Patricia [Dominican Republic] (Paul) Fransella of Warrenton, Virginia and their three children: Paul Jr, Danielle and Nicholas; and Rodrigo Estepa [LaPaz, Bolivia] and his daughter Renata and his sister Carmine.

Jill Ann, born Diane Kay, was welcomed into the family of her adoptive parents, Dorothy Mae (O’Brien) Gillespie and Arthur Vernon Gillespie II, on June 6, 1955, in Alpena, Michigan. Her father, a former captain of the Western Michigan University football team, dedicated his life to physical education and facilitating youth summer camps for baseball and golf. Jill's childhood was enriched by summers spent at the Ted Williams Baseball Camp in Massachusetts alongside her parents and her adopted brother, Arthur Vernon Gillespie III (Artie). Her childhood adventures extended to camping, canoeing, skiing, and swimming, instilling a lifelong love for the outdoors.

At the age of 16, Jill had already earned her Water Safety Instructor-Teacher certificate, marking the beginning of a career as a lifeguard and swimming instructor during her high school and college years. Her passion for helping others and the social skills honed through her summer camp experiences became defining traits throughout her life.

Jill graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Special Education and met Britt through a mutual friend while he attended Michigan Technological University. They married in 1975 and started their life together in Baltimore, Maryland, where they welcomed their daughters Erin (1977) and Erica (1978). Four years later, the family relocated to the greater Minneapolis area, where they lived for over four decades before Britt and Jill officially relocated to Florida in 2022 and became fulltime residents.

Throughout her life, Jill embraced a variety of roles with enthusiasm and dedication. From raising her daughters and assisting with raising her grandchildren, to running her own cleaning business, managing a grocery store, working in a variety of office positions, working at a care facility for severely handicapped adults, and working as an in-home daycare provider, Jill enriched every endeavor with her warm spirit, tireless work ethic and positive can-do attitude.

Later in life, Jill and Britt rekindled her childhood joy for outdoor adventures and purchased their first RV in 2005. By 2009, they had embarked on summer careers as volunteer campground hosts for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources at Rock Lake Forest Campground, near Pillager, Minnesota. Jill took great pride in transforming the campground into a family-friendly destination, welcoming visitors with her radiant smile, boundless positivity, and endless life stories. Britt joined her on a full-time basis upon his retirement in 2015, and together they hosted until 2022.

Jill's legacy is her unwavering kindness, her infectious optimism, and the positive impact on the countless lives she touched. Her proudest achievement, beyond raising her family, was fostering a community of joy and relaxation at the campground—a place where many families created cherished memories.

A Celebration of Jill's life will be held on Sunday May 18, 2025 at 11:00AM at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Baxter. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to the start of the service. A lunch will be served following the service. Following the lunch, friends and family are invited out to Rock Lake Campground for a gathering. 

Jill will forever be missed by all who knew her and were fortunate to experience the light she brought into the world.