LeRoy Hilsman

LeRoy Hilsman, age 76, of North Washington, IA, died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday evening March 20, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 24, 2011, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his wife and three sons. The offertory gifts will be presented by Amber Hilsman, Megan Hilsman, Alicia Hilsman, Blake Hilsman and Ethan Hilsman. Cody Hilsman will be the cross-bearer. Sister-in-law, Marilyn Elenz will be the lector. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, North Washington with Keith Elenz, Jeff Elenz, Kelly Mishak, Mike Lowe, Wayne Johnson and Blake Hilsman serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Bob Weigel, Robert Schwickerath, Virgil Marvin and Jerome Kuhn. Friends may greet the family 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton with a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at church on Thursday. LeRoy Francis Hilsman was born February 21, 1935, in New Hampton, IA, the only child to Herbert and Leone (Cimmiyotti) Hilsman. He received his education at St. Mary’s Catholic School in North Washington. As a young man, he worked on the family farm with his parents. On June 5, 1956, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Alta Vista, he married Jeanne Mishak. To this union four sons were born. From 1956-1967 the couple farmed north of Alta Vista and began a partnership in trucking with Jerry Felder. In 1967, the couple moved to North Washington and LeRoy also began work for the Chickasaw County Secondary Roads, running the Drag Line on the Bridge Crew. In 1979, the couple built their current home just north of North Washington. LeRoy started scrapping metal 1970, which he continued until his last days. He also started Hilsman Trucking in 1985 which he ran until 1997. LeRoy retired from the County in 1993 and devoted all his time to the trucking business and to scrapping iron. LeRoy was an avid and passionate collector with anything relating to Farmall Tractors and spent hours tinkering in his shop. He enjoyed the outdoors, spending time camping and fishing and was seen at many area auctions. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; three sons, Robert Hilsman (Karen Norby) of New Hampton, Roger (Lisa) Hilsman of West Des Moines and Russ (Becky) Hilsman of Kasson, MN; six grandchildren, Cody Hilsman, Megan Hilsman, Amber Hilsman, Alicia Hilsman, Blake Hilsman and Ethan Hilsman; one great-granddaughter, Hadleigh Hilsman. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Richard in 1979.