Lavern Hilsman

Lavern F. Hilsman, age 89 of New Hampton, Iowa died Sunday February 14, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday February 18, 2010, at Holy Family Parish - St. Mary's Center with Rev. John Harpel celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by his wife, Kathleen, Virgil and Mary Hilsman, Tom and Paula Rosonke and Mary Lee Geerts. Ann Bennett will be the organist accompanying the North Washington Men's Choir with Travis Bouska as cantor. The lector for the service will be Cindy Friedhof. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Virgil & Mary Hilsman and Mary Lee Geerts. Serving as eucharistic ministers will be Pat Schwickerath and John and Mary Rosonke. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Hampton with Mike Weigel, Ron Leichtman, Jim Schwickerath, Tom Schwickerath, Jim Lewis and LeRoy Geerts serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Catholic Order of Foresters, Mitch Rosonke, Caleb Rosonke, Katie Rosonke and Larry Geerts. Visitation will be 3 - 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton where there will be a 4:00 p.m. combined Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters Rosary. There will also be a 5:30 p.m. Scripture Service lead by Rev. John Harpel. Further visitation continues 8 - 10 a.m. before the service Thursday morning at the funeral home. Lavern Frank Hilsman was born October 12, 1920, on the family farm north of North Washington, Iowa, the son of Peter and Mary (Zimmer) Hilsman. His father died when he was twelve years old and at age sixteen he took responsibility for farming the family farm. On September 28, 1950, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Hampton, Lavern was united in marriage to Kathleen Schueller. The couple farmed northeast of North Washington until moving into New Hampton in 1986. While farming he also worked driving stock truck and cream truck for Frank Schilling. After retirement, Lavern worked as a carpenter for L & C Builders and on the John Laures Farm. Lavern was a 75 year member of Catholic Order of Foresters and a 50 year member of Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed dancing and playing cards with his many friends and family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Kathleen; one brother, Virgil (Mary) Hilsman of New Hampton; many nieces and nephews including, Mary Lee (LeRoy) Geerts of Charles City. Lavern was preceded in death by his parents; one brother in infancy, Ralph Hilsman; one sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Leo Hoffman.