Jerry Henry Hilger, age 81 of Fennimore passed away on Friday July 13, 2012. He was born on November 30, 1930 in Glen Haven, WI the son of Henry and Sylvia (Laufenberg) Hilger. He married Armilla Mae O’Connell on Dec. 28, 1954.
Jerry served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 until 1954. Upon returning home, he and Armilla were married and started their life together farming in Iowa. They moved to the Fennimore area in 1956 where they continued to farm until moving to town in 1980. In addition to farming, Jerry became the grocery manager at Piggly Wiggly in Boscobel for 11 years, and worked as a DHI fieldsman in Grant County for 27 years. He also worked in the office at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for many years where he played an integral role in starting the Knights of Columbus and the building of the Church Hall. Jerry volunteered as a member of the Whitish-Funk American Legion Post #184 in Fennimore.
Jerry is survived by his wife Armilla, five children; Stan Hilger of Peculiar, MO, Deb Hilger of Janesville, WI, Brad Hilger of Prairie du Chien, WI, Bruce (Jackie) Hilger of Chugwater, WY, and Pat (Susan) Hilger of Fennimore, WI, grand children; Matthew, Jessica, Kristine, Brooke, Renae, and Olivia Hilger, Daren (Sarah) Mindham and Darcy Mindham, Stefanie (Tyler) Stromberg, and Katie (Cody) Redding. Jerry is also survived by three great grandchildren, and a brother Gene Hilger of Indianola, IA.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark Hilger, and a daughter-in-law Jeri (Artos) Hilger.
A mass will be given at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday July 21, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fennimore with burial of cremated remains with Military Honors to follow in the Church Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4-8:00 P.M. on Friday evening July 20, 2012 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore.