James A. Hilsenbeck
July 5, 1939 — April 19, 2021
James A. Hilsenbeck, 81, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Monday, April 19, 2021. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion with a Vigil Service at 3:30 p.m. conducted by Deacon Jeff Volker. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion conducted by Reverend David O'Connor. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the church’s website at
https://youtu.be/59KmT_YvTy8
Burial will follow at Lisbon Cemetery in Lisbon, Iowa. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
James was born July 5, 1939, in Greeley, Iowa, the son of Howard and Doris (Schneider) Hilsenbeck. He was raised on the family farm near Greeley, Iowa. James graduated from Greeley Consolidated High School in 1957. He attended Upper Iowa University. James served three years in the United States Army from 1961 to1964. James was united in marriage to Evelyn Mae Thompson on October 1, 1960. Together they had a son, James “Alan” Jr. and a daughter, Lynda. Evelyn passed away in June of 1983. James married Gladys (Stanek) Berns on July 21, 1984. Gladys passed away in October of 2012. James was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion. He was also a member of the Marion American Legion Post #298. James worked for 28 years at Colonial Bakery and 11 years at Rockwell Collins, retiring in 1997. He collected all things Pink Panther, caps and yard sticks. James and Gladys took many motor coach trips in the United States and traveled abroad. They enjoyed watching a lot of sports events together. They were fans of the Chicago Cubs and he was partial to the St. Louis Cardinals. They also wintered in Texas for several years. James will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
James is survived by his children, James “Alan” (Sonia) Hilsenbeck Jr. of Harlingen, Texas, and Lynda Putnam also of Harlingen; also step-children, Terry (Chris) Berns of Highland Park, Illinois, Larry (Susan) Berns of Cedar Rapids, and Jerry (Deb) Berns of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Rachel (Kevin) Wright, Ashley Deerberg, Craig Hilsenbeck and Kevin Hilsenbeck, and Brent Berns and Sarah Berns; his siblings, Corrine Halse of Marion, Iowa, Jerry (Janet) Hilsenbeck of Naperville, Illinois, Curt Hilsenbeck (special friend, Susan Olsen) of Brighton, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and special friends, Mary Hauschildt and Sonny Deke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Evelyn; his second wife, Gladys; brother-in-law, Ronald Halse; and son-in-law, Joe Putnam.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in James’ memory may be directed to either Camp Courageous at P.O. Box 418 in Monticello, Iowa, 52310 or to Eastern Iowa Honor Flight at P.O. Box 10704 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52410.
James was born July 5, 1939, in Greeley, Iowa, the son of Howard and Doris (Schneider) Hilsenbeck. He was raised on the family farm near Greeley, Iowa. James graduated from Greeley Consolidated High School in 1957. He attended Upper Iowa University. James served three years in the United States Army from 1961 to1964. James was united in marriage to Evelyn Mae Thompson on October 1, 1960. Together they had a son, James “Alan” Jr. and a daughter, Lynda. Evelyn passed away in June of 1983. James married Gladys (Stanek) Berns on July 21, 1984. Gladys passed away in October of 2012. James was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marion. He was also a member of the Marion American Legion Post #298. James worked for 28 years at Colonial Bakery and 11 years at Rockwell Collins, retiring in 1997. He collected all things Pink Panther, caps and yard sticks. James and Gladys took many motor coach trips in the United States and traveled abroad. They enjoyed watching a lot of sports events together. They were fans of the Chicago Cubs and he was partial to the St. Louis Cardinals. They also wintered in Texas for several years. James will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
James is survived by his children, James “Alan” (Sonia) Hilsenbeck Jr. of Harlingen, Texas, and Lynda Putnam also of Harlingen; also step-children, Terry (Chris) Berns of Highland Park, Illinois, Larry (Susan) Berns of Cedar Rapids, and Jerry (Deb) Berns of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Rachel (Kevin) Wright, Ashley Deerberg, Craig Hilsenbeck and Kevin Hilsenbeck, and Brent Berns and Sarah Berns; his siblings, Corrine Halse of Marion, Iowa, Jerry (Janet) Hilsenbeck of Naperville, Illinois, Curt Hilsenbeck (special friend, Susan Olsen) of Brighton, Colorado; and many nieces, nephews, friends, and special friends, Mary Hauschildt and Sonny Deke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Evelyn; his second wife, Gladys; brother-in-law, Ronald Halse; and son-in-law, Joe Putnam.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in James’ memory may be directed to either Camp Courageous at P.O. Box 418 in Monticello, Iowa, 52310 or to Eastern Iowa Honor Flight at P.O. Box 10704 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52410.
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