Hillier, John G. "Jack" 1923-2011

HILLIER, COLLINS, MCGEE, SHOUP, JONES

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/13/2014 at 09:28:02

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
March 10, 2011

JOHN G. 'JACK' HILLIER

John G. "Jack" Hillier, 87, of Mesa, Ariz., and formerly of Grinnell, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at his home in Mesa.

A funeral service was held Tuesday, March 8, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Charles Pope, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Grinnell, officiating. Casket bearers were Gordon Ashby, John Guthrie, John P. Hillier, Jeff Jones, Mike Jones and Russ Sadler. Graveside rites were conducted by the United States Marine Corp Honor Guard. Interment was at the Westfield Cemetery near Grinnell.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or to the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children.

He was born on Oct. 23, 1923, in Streator, Ill., to John G. and Hazel Collins Hillier and he graduated from Streator High School. On Jan. 25, 1943, he enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corp and served during World War II in the South Pacific Theater. He was discharged from the Marine Corp in 1945 in El Toro, Calif.

On Sept. 3, 1976, he was united in marriage to Cheryl McGee in Montezuma. The couple lived in Grinnell and he was employed as the plant manager for the Donaldson Company. He also served as plant manager for H & W Gate Company from 1981 to 1984. Following his retirement he lived in Missouri and then Mesa.

He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Eagles Lodge, the Elks Lodge and the Kentucky Colonels. He joined the Masonic Lodge in 1945 and was a member of the Kaaba Shrine Temple.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Hillier of Mesa, Ariz.; one daughter, Cindy Shoup of Kansas City, Kan., and two sons, John P. Hillier of Grinnell and Steve Hillier of Oakland Acres; two step-sons, Jeff Jones and Mike Jones, both of Grinnell; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert and Richard Hillier.