Hilke, Earl Herman 1916 - 2010

HILKE, MARONDE, JOHNSON, VOLBRECHT, KOLIHA, PATZKE, NELSON, ZELLER, POLIVKA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:22

Earl Herman Hilke, 93, of Harmony, MN passed away on Thursday, August 12 at the Harmony Community Healthcare where he had resided for the past 2 years after breaking a knee cap. Earl Herman Hilke was born on September 5, 1916, on his family farm northeast of Cresco, IA to Arthur and Martha (Maronde) Hilke. He attended and graduated from Cresco High School in 1935, where he was a member of the winning wrestling team that won the Iowa state championship all four years of his high school career. In 1935, he won a gold medal at the Iowa state competition in the 115 lb. class. On June 9, 1940, he married Winifred Arlone Johnson at her family farm in rural Harmony. Arlone preceded Earl in death on January 16, 2008. They were blessed with 67 year of marriage. Earl & Arlone were both employed by Earl's brother-in-law, Fred Volbrecht at the Puritan Locker in Cresco from 1940 to 1942.On March 10, 1943. Earl was drafted into the Army and was assigned to the Armored Infantry Battalion of the 8th Armored Division and took his basic and infantry training stationed at Camp Polk, LA. He was deployed overseas in November 1944. Earl was classified as a machinery operator and one of his duties was to drive a rations supply truck to the front lines each day. He served with the SV Co. 49th Armored Infantry BNn.8th. He served in Germany and other parts of Europe during the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe campaigns. Earl returned to the United States and was discharged from Camp McCoy, WI in February 1946. Earl served nearly three years during World War II and obtained a Tech-5 rank and received several decorations and citations.
After returning from the war he and Arlone resumed their employment positions at the Puritan Locker and later decided to farm. They settled on Arlone' s family farm where they farmed side by side for over 35 years until retiring to Harmony in 1982. Earl was a member of the Harmony State Line United Methodist Church and a 62-year member of the Gustav Berg American Legion Post No. 81 of Harmony. He also served on past church and rural school boards.He enjoyed farming, Red Angus cattle, horseback riding, snowmobiling, watching the Twins, car trips and Friday night gatherings with friends. Most of all he found pleasure and happiness being with his family and watching his grandchildren and great-granddaughter, Brooklyn, grow. Earl is now watching down from heaven with Arlone their new two-week old great-grandson, Logan.Survivors include two daughters: Lynda (Rodney) Koliha of Harmony, MN, and Juliann Hilke of Burnsville, MN; grandchildren: Carrie (David) Patzke of Ham Lake, MN, Holly (Brian) Nelson of Canton, MN, and Brandon (Anne) Koliha of Harmony, MN. Great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Anne Nelson and Logan Mitchel Patzke, and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Arlone, and three sisters: Myrtle Zeller, Agnes Volbrecht, and Hazel Polivka. Earl and Arlone are once more together in Heaven with our Lord.

Cemetery:
Burial will be in the State Line Cemetery, rural Harmony with full military rites by the Gustav Berg American Legion Post #81 of Harmony.

Visitation:
Visitation will be held one hour prior to service. 10am to 11 am.

Service:
The funeral will be at 11 am Saturday, August. 14th at the Harmony State Line United Methodist Church in Harmony. Visitation is an hour before the service at the church.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home database

State Line Cemetery
 

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