Obit: Hilgers, John (1861 - 1940)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Hilgers, Lee, Jonen, Sturner, Buckley, Fowler, Neuman, Van Vorst, Gross, Lamont, Zassenhaus, Rannow, Baum, Dix, Forbish, Degenhardt, Norwatazky, Hank, Fisher

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 11/21/1940

Hilgers, John (12 Feb. 1861 - 18 Nov. 1940)

John Hilgers, a well known citizen of Colby, passed away Monday evening, Nov. 18th, at 7:50 P.M., complications of ailments being the cause of his death. He had been ill four weeks. Funeral services will be held at the Lulloff Funeral Home Friday afternoon, Nov. 22, at 2:00 P.M., Rev. H. Lee officiating, and internment will be made in the Colby cemetery.

Mr. Hilgers was born in Racine, Wisconsin, on February 12th, 1861, thus reaching the age of 79 years, 10 months and six days. He was married to Kathryn Jonen at Kaukauna, Wisconsin, May 8th, 1888, to which union two children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Hilgers came to Colby in 1890.

From 1900 to 1912, Mr. Hilgers worked as salesman for the Gaar-Scott & Co., selling threshing machines and farm machinery. In the early days he operated a threshing machine, working for most of the farmers in this territory. He also operated a well drilling machine from the early days until the present time of his death. He bought a farm in Montana in 1918 which he operated for several years. He was also supervisor of the first ward of the city of Colby for a number of years. He was a man of honest and strong convictions and had the habit of weighting things in the balance of reason, discarding what to him was not right and just. He was a good citizen, a good husband and father and had many friends who are sorry to learn of his departure to the distant shore.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. O. W. Sturner of Colby, Wis. One son, Matthew, died Nov. 16th. 1924.

He is also survived by two brothers, Peter Hilgers and Joe Hilgers, of Fort Worth, Texas, four sisters, Anna Buckley of Forth Worth, Stene Fowler of Fort Worth, Katie Neuman of Fort Worth, Margaret Van Vorst of Appleton and a half sister and half brother, Rose Gross and Ed. Gross of Fort Worth.

----Sources: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 11/28/1940

Funeral services for John Hilgers, whose death was reported last week, were held on Friday afternoon at the Lulloff Funeral Home, Rev. H. Lee officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. Pall bearers were Angus Lamont, Fred Zassenhaus, Otto Rannow, R. E. Baum, Fred Dix and Henry Forbish.

Out of town people here for the funeral were Mrs. Lylle Degenhardt of Eau Claire, Mrs. Clemence Norwatazky and daughter, Isabelle, of Appleton, Mrs. Jake Hank and daughter and Mrs. Herman Van Vorst of Kaukauna and Mrs. Frank Fisher of Darboy, Wisconsin.