Worcester – Pastor Wally Tilleman went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 10, 2013, in the loving arms of his wife Linda. He was born in Ede, Netherlands, son of the late Johannes and Teuntje (DeJong) Tilleman, on October 26, 1945. A graduate of Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Blue Island, IL, Wally also received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ilinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL; his M. Div. degree from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL; and a D. Min. degree from Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary, S. Hamilton, MA.
Wally and Linda were married on August 10, 1968, and moved from Illinois to Worcester County on October 31, 1971, when he was called to plant Faith Baptist Church in Southbridge. He went on to start Dudley Baptist Church in 1977 and to pastor two Worcester churches, Pleasant Street Baptist and Christ Baptist. For the past two and a half years he has been on staff at Faith Baptist Church in Auburn.
Pastor Tilleman was also active in the community and loved the city and its people. He had been committed to the Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, was a member of Worcester Interfaith, served on the Board of Family Health Center of Worcester, and was heavily involved in CSCO (Christians Supporting Community Organizing). He cherished the friendships he made through these connections “in the hood” and sought to live out his faith by connecting it to his commitment to promote justice and participation in the democratic process.
Rev. Tilleman is survived by his wife, Linda (Goettsch) Tilleman; a son, David J. Tilleman of South Boston; 7 daughters, Elisabeth (Brian) Cobiski of Winchendon, Catherine (Vinson) Mangos of Lewiston, ME, Deborah Tilleman of Worcester, Rebekah (Michael) George of Rutland, Christina Donahue and her fiancé Ray O’Brien of Winchendon, Teresa (Tony) Russo of Paxton and Juliana Tilleman of Medford; and 3 brothers, John, Evert, and Peter Tilleman, all of IL. Other surviving family members include 15 grandchildren, Jacob Tilleman, Nathan and Allison Cobiski, SPC. Tyler Nuñez, Joseph and Jason Gonzalez, Jasmine and Skylar Stoll, Isabella and Caleb George, Kiley, Nicholas, and Brayden Donahue; and Anthony and Giana Russo; a great granddaughter, Payten Rae Nuñez; several aunts and uncles; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and several step-grandchildren including Matthew, Daniel, and Meghan George of Auburn.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by a preborn son; his sister Maaike Koning ; two nieces, Jeanne Tilleman and her sister Patricia Ditty; and his father and mother-in-law, Harold and Jean Goettsch.
The family would like to thank Dr. Sayed Ali, Dr. Tony Samaha, and his chemo nurse Anita for their excellent care over the past thirteen months since his pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 15th from 5 to 8 PM in the Faith Baptist Church at 22 Faith Ave., Auburn with a funeral service at 10:00 AM on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Faith Baptist Church Missions Scholarship Fund, 22 Faith Ave., Auburn, MA 01501 or to the Family Health Center of Worcester, Development Office, P.O. Box 20205, Worcester, MA 01602. Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Hammond St., Worcester is directing arrangements.
To share a memory of Rev. Tilleman with the family or to offer a message of condolence, please visit www.Royfuneral.com