----Source: TRIBUNE-RECORD-GLEANER (Loyal, Wis.) 11/06/2002

Hinker, Jerome E. (31 Mar 1934 - 29 OCT 2002)

Jerome E. Hinker, 68, Greenwood, Clark County, Wis., died on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002, in the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Greenwood. The Rev. Joseph Follmar officiated. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Pallbearers were Jeff Hoeper, Bob Gregorich, Pete Bogdonovich, Arnie Kappus, Ron Brennhofer, George Graunke, Ralph Landini and Floyd Plautz.

Jerome Edward Hinker was born on March 31, 1934, in Greenwood, to Sylvester and Barbara (nee Pink) Hinker. He was raised and educated in Greenwood and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1952. After graduation, he worked from 1953-54 for the Cooperative Feed Mill, Greenwood, and from 1954-55 at Grassland Dairy, Greenwood. He then entered the U.S. Army and served in Germany from 1955-57. Following his honorable discharge, he worked at the A.O. Smith Factory, Milwaukee, until 1958. He then began driving a gas truck for Cooperative Services, Greenwood. He married Marlene Loos on Sept. 16, 1961, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Loyal. He continued to work for Cooperative Services until 1975. He then worked as a salesman for Midland-Universal Dairy Products until 1980, when he returned to Cooperative Services as manager for the next 15 years. He also worked with Landini Auction and Realty, Greenwood, since 1990, and drove bus for the Greenwood School District since 1996. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus Lady of Fatima Council #4963 since 1962. He was a volunteer fireman for Greenwood for 35 years and served as fire chief for many years. He was a part-time policeman in Greenwood for 18 years and an EMT and ambulance driver for 21 years. He was a member and past president of the Greenwood Softball Association, where he umpired for 12 years. At the time of his death, he was serving on the board of the Greenwood Industrial Development Corporation. His interests included golfing, fishing, deer hunting, bowling, building bird houses, and following his children and grandchildren as Greenwood High School athletes.

Survivors include his wife, Marlene Hinker, Greenwood; six children, Roxanne Hinker, Greenwood, Randy (Gina) Hinker, Greenwood, David (Judy) Hinker, Greenwood, Dean (Kris) Hinker, Greenwood, Kevin Hinker, Oregon, and Kent (Wendy) Hinker, Greenwood; 11 grandchildren, Derek, Dustin, Jamie, Kade, Halle, Hayden, Kole, Kena, Morgan, Lexi and Brooke; one sister, JoAnn (Lester) Kaiser, Hewitt; seven brothers, Gene (Marilyn) Hinker, Loyal, Ronald (Audrey) Hinker, Wausau, Jim (Carolyn) Hinker, Greenwood, Francis (Corrine) Hinker, Marshfield, Allen (Sandra) Hinker, Greenwood, Robert (Donna) Hinker, Greenwood, and Bill Hinker, Greenwood; one sister-in-law, Sharon Hinker, Cape May, N.J.; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, and one brother, Larry Hinker, in April 1996.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.