Obit: Hiles, Walter Charles (1940 - 2009)

Contact: Dolores Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Hiles, Dietrich, Suhr, Spaete, Canfield, Cattanach, Erickson, Handt, Love

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 17, 2009

Hiles, Walter Charles (3 August 1940 - 11 June 2009) With Flag

Walter Hiles, 68, of Granton died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Palliative Care Unit in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield.

Walter Charles Hiles was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Grant Township, the son of Robert and Anida (Dietrich) Hiles. He graduated from Granton High School in 1958.  After graduation he worked on the family farm and drove truck for the family business, Hiles Bros. Construction, before enlisting in the United States Army Jan. 11, 1962.  he served in Thailand before his discharge in 1964.  He then moved to Milwaukee and Aurora, IL, for a short time.  He returned to the farm when his father had a stroke.  Walter and his brother Wallace then took over both the farm and the business.  When Walter’s mother died in 1981, the construction business was sold; however, Walter continued farming until suffering a stroke.

For Walter, farming was his hobby.  It was not just a job for him but his way of life.  He also enjoyed walking around the neighborhood, hunting and scavenging.

He was a member of the Zion American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton.

He is survived by two sisters, Beverly (Don) Suhr of Homewood, IL, and Gloria (Paul) Spaete of Columbus; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and his twin brother, Wallace; three sisters, Ramona, Marsha and Dorothy (recently); and two infant sisters.

Funeral services for Walter will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2009, at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.  Pastor Rob Love will officiate.  Interment will be in he Town of Grant Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neillsville Veteran’s Council.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friday at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville.

Casketbearers are Vince Canfield, Evan Cattanach, Tim Erickson, Jeff Handt, Don Hiles and Mark Hiles.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Online condolences may be made at www.GescheFH.com.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Walter’s family with funeral arrangements.