Roger Hilleshiem

Roger C. Hilleshiem, 79, of Waterville, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2020, at  his home. Funeral services were held Monday, January 6, at Waterville Lutheran Church with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating and burial at Waterville Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Roger Charles Hilleshiem was born November 15, 1940, at home in Waterville, the son of Grover and Mabel (Frok) Hilleshiem. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church and attended elementary school in Waterville. His family then moved to Vinton, where Roger graduated from high school. He was a meat inspector at Wilson’s packing plant and was a part-time police officer in Cedar Rapids, for a time. On May 7, 1966, Roger married Mary Allman at Waterville Lutheran and the couple moved to Waterville and farmed; Roger also drove school bus for Allamakee Community Schools.  In 1985, Mary died. Roger went to work for Northern Engraving in Waukon, doing tool and die work. While there, he met Jan Bulman and the two later married and then divorced. In 1990, Roger married Carol Webb Shipp in Kansas City, MO. Roger and Carol lived in Missouri, where he did tool and die work for Roberts Tool. When he turned 65, Roger retired and he and Carol moved back to Waterville.

As a lifelong member of Waterville Lutheran Church, Roger taught Sunday school for several years and was on the cemetery board. He was also a Waterville firefighter and EMT and a master mason with the Grand Mason Lodge in Lansing. Roger was always working on something and built and remodeled many houses over his lifetime, including his current project of remolding a barn into a home. He had been an antique collector since he was 12 years old and refinished a lot of furniture, which meant he always had plenty of items to decorate with. He was also a great woodworker and built grandfather clocks among other things. He loved gardening and landscaping and while living in Missouri, created a pond and gazebo next to their house. Roger would enjoy looking out the window at his gardens and at the birds. Roger had a longtime fascination with trains and enjoyed riding them and collecting train related things. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, and raising chickens too.

He is survived by his two sons: Jeff (Gail) and Jon Hilleshiem, both of Waterville; three grandchildren: Alyssa Hilleshiem, Joseff (Mary) Hilleshiem, and Mary Aarsvold; two great-grandchildren: Ryder and Alyana Hilleshiem; and many nieces and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents; wives Mary in 1985 and Carol in 2019; and siblings: Mervin, Gordon “Tom”, Eleanor, Lorna, Marlys “Jean” Balhorn, Arleen Bowers, Eldo “Sam”, Lester “Mick”, LeRoy, Richard, Evelyn, Lloyd, Arthur, and an infant brother.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.