Obit: Hillert, Theodore (1919 - 2006)

Contact:  Shari Hahn

Surnames: Hillert, Trimberger, Grass, Shea, Todd, Robbie, Lynum

----Sources: Marshfield News-Herald, July 20, 2006

Theodore Hillert

TOMAH -- Theodore "Ted" R. Hillert, age 86, was called to eternal rest on June 24, 2006, passing away unexpectedly at his home in Tomah.

Ted was born on Aug. 3, 1919, in the town of Grant, Clark County, to Richard and Amelia (Trimberger) Hillert. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Granton. He graduated from Granton High School in 1938 and then attended River Falls State Teachers College and was drafted into the Army in May 1941. Ted proudly served his country with the 799th Engineer Forestry Company in Alaska, Germany and the Philippines. After he was honorably discharged from the service in December 1945, he returned to River Falls State Teachers College, where he received his BS degree in agricultural education in 1949. He later earned his MS degree in agricultural education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On Aug. 24, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lois E. Grass at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Evanston, Ill. In 1949 he accepted the position of coordinator of the GI On-the Farm-Training program for returning World War II veterans who wished to farm in the Tomah School District. In 1951 he accepted a position of full time vocational agriculture instructor in the Tomah School District, teaching high school classes and young and adult farmers. In 1969 he accepted a position with Western Wisconsin Technical College of LaCrosse as farm management instructor. He continued in this work until retirement in 1982.

Ted and his family joined St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tomah in 1950. He was a faithful member there and served in various capacities, including treasurer, trustee and many years as head usher. He was a long-time member of the Tomah Lions Club. During his teaching years, he was active with the Monroe County Fair and served as superintendent of the swine division. He is a lifetime member of the National FFA and a member of the Wisconsin Retired Teachers Association and WEAC.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially surf fishing at South Padre Island in the winters. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother as well as a great Christian role model.

He is survived by his daughter, Susan (James) Shea of Elk Mound; three sons, Mark (Pam) of De Pere, David (Judith) of River Falls and Brian (Kim) of Chippewa Falls; five grandchildren, Bradley, Conor and Sydney Hillert, and Donovan and Michael Shea. Also survived by a step-grandson, Christopher Todd of Georgia, and a step-granddaughter, Stasia Robbie, River Falls, as well as one great-grandson, Austin Lynum. Additionally, he is survived by a brother, Dr. Richard (Gloria) Hillert of Melrose Park, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Edna (Hasz) Grass of Rothschild; three nieces and three nephews. Also surviving are cousins from and still living in the Granton/Neillsville area, as well as a host of friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lois, on Nov. 11, 2002, after 56 years of marriage.

Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2006, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Avenue, Tomah. Pastor Donald R. Buch officiated. Burial was in the Mount Vernon Cemetery, rural Tomah.

Memorials maybe given to St. Paul Evanagelical Lutheran Church in Tomah or the charity of your choice in memory of Theodore R. Hillert.

Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah, assisted the family with arrangements.