INNOCENT HERMAN HILKEMEYER
November 16, 1907 ~ April 7, 2006
Innocent Herman Inno Hilkemeyer, 98, of Westphalia, died Friday, April 7, 2006, at Westphalia Retirement Center. He was born on Nov. 16, 1907 in Westphalia, the son of Gerhard and Gertrude Luebbert Hilkemeyer. He was married on May 12, 1937 in Meta, MO to Helen Elizabeth Schulz who died on May 27, 2000. Inno was employed with Kroger/Schulte IGA Foodliner for over forty years until his retirement in 1972. Combining his love of vegetables and his artistic side, some considered that he elevated his job as a grocer to an art. Shoppers would come to the local Jefferson City grocery store just to see his elaborate produce displays. Inno was an avid reader, cook, gardener, and music fan. He was a man who knew how to keep the holidays well. Inno loved the Maries River and believed a true fisherman had to be on the river before sunrise. But most of all, he was a good father to his children and an adoring grandfather to six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was a loving godfather to his nieces, Anne Steele and Connie Gerling; his nephew, John Hilkemeyer; and his granddaughter, Christina Narendra. He attended St. Joseph School in Westphalia and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Westphalia. He was a member of Holy Name Society; Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus; Jefferson City Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2693; charter member of the Westphalia Historical Society; and was the last surviving charter member of the Westphalia Lions Club. He also served as an officer for the St. Joseph Catholic School lunch program and in his retirement delivered Meals-on-Wheels. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Barbara Hilkemeyer, Belair, MD; two daughters and sons-in-law, Victoria and David Patterson, Westphalia; and Mary and Terry Neuner, Westphalia; six grandchildren, Mary Rakestraw, Westphalia; Eric Neuner and Paul Neuner, both of San Diego, CA; Christina Narendra, Bali, Indonesia; Beth Hilkemeyer, Leesburg, VA; and Daniel Hilkemeyer, Belair, MD; seven great-grandchildren, James Rakestraw, Grace Rakestraw, Gilbert Neuner, Katherine Neuner, Ursula Neuner, Sutjiati Narendra, and Truman Neuner; one brother and sister-in-law, Gilbert and Emma Hilkemeyer, Loose Creek, MO; and one sister, Trudy Conine, Westphalia. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Alex Hilkemeyer, Gerhard Hilkemeyer, Jr., and Jerome Hilkemeyer; and two sisters, Carye MacGregor and Sr. Marie Hilkemeyer, O.S.F. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Westphalia, with the Rev. Philip M. Kane officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Westphalia. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday, April 10th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, Westphalia, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic School, POB 205, Westphalia, MO 65085-0205. Those wishing to email condolences or tributes to the family may do so on the www.dulletrimble.com website.
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