HILLIGAS, John F. (1899-1965)

HILLIGAS

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes
Date: 11/9/2018 at 16:03:56

The Belle Plaine Union
Mar. 10, 1965

SERVICES HELD
FEB. 25 FOR
JOHN F. HILLIGAS

CHELSEA--Funeral services for John Floyd Hilligas, 65, Chelsea, were held on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Hrabak Funeral Home with the Rev. W.E. Gillette, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating.

Mrs. John Kaloupek, organist, accompanied the soloist, Mrs. Vernon Musel. Pallbearers were John, Charles, George and Bernard Musel, Leonard Novak and Joseph Kriva. Burial was in Rector cemetery south of Chelsea, with military services at graveside.

Mr. Hilligas died on Monday, Feb. 22 at St. Luke's hospital in Cedar Rapids. He had been in failing health for some time and death was attributed to complications.

John Floyd Hilligas, son of Frank and Mary Force Hilligas, was born on Nov. 14, 1899, near Brooklyn. He served in World War I in the United States Navy aboard the USS Chester for four years.

He was married to Carrie Margaret Loschen in Garnet, Kansas on Oct. 21, 1922, and they lived in the community around Chelsea 28 years, farming until 1950, when they moved to their present home in Cheslea. After moving to Chelsea, Mr. Hilligas operated a tavern ten years.

He was a member of the Chelsea Methodist church and was a past commander of Benda-Sell Post No. 269 in Chelsea.

Surviving him are his wife; four sons and five daughters, Mrs. R.D. (Virginia) McFatridge, Chelsea; John Hilligas, Jr., Northville, Mich.; Merle Hilligas, Hastings, Neb.; Mrs. Richard (Elsie) Blomme, Victor; First class Petty Officer Calvin Hilligas, Cecil Field, Fla.; Mrs. Fred (Dorothy) Prusha, Jr., Chelsea; Mrs. Nancy Villers, Iowa City; Doris Hilligas, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Robert (Frances) Kaufman, Tama; and Earl Hilligas, Elkhart; 40 grandchildren; five brothers, Tom Hilligas, Chelsea; Charles, Brooklyn, Carl, Grinnell; William, Prairie City; and Fred, Seal Beach, Calif. and two sisters, Mrs. Belle Kellerman, Westphalia, Kans., and Mrs. Vivian Meyers, Newton. Another sister, Mrs. John Loschen, Van Meter, preceded him in death.

Relatives from out-of-town who attended the services were from Northville, Mich., Hastings, Neb., Des Moines, Waukee, Desoto, Newton, Prairie City, Brooklyn, Ladora, Victor, Hartwick, Elkhart, Iowa City, Tama, Belle Plaine and Toledo.