Donald Joseph Hilger

Donald J. Hilger, age 82, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2015. Don, a native of Superior, WI graduated from Superior Central High in 1950. Shortly thereafter he began a career in the Marine Industry which was to last 44 years. He started as a Great Lakes seaman where he remained for 16 years working in various capacities, except for a 2 year stint in the US Army during the Korean conflict. During this time he became licensed as Chief Engineer by the U.S. Coast Guard and served on several Great Lake vessels. In 1967 he joined the American Bureau of Shipping at Cleveland, OH. Shortly thereafter he was transferred to Yokohama, Japan and later to Manila, Philippines where he remained until transferred to Nashville, TN in 1977. In 1983 he returned to Cleveland, OH where he became responsible for all the Bureau's Marine activities as Regional Manager, in charge of 12 exclusive offices located throughout the Western Rivers, Great Lakes and all of Canada. Don retired from the Bureau in December of 1994 and moved to DeLand, FL with his wife Axie until finally settling in LaFollette in 2002. He was a member of Acacia/Itasca Masonic Lodge, The Commandery of Superior, The Scottish Rite of Manila and Al Menah Shrine Temple of Nashville.

Don was preceded in death by Axie, his wife of 56 years.

Survivors of his immediate family include his daughter Gloria Howard, daughter Karen (Tom) Turner, son Daniel Hilger, son David (Sherry) Hilger and daughter Karin Holmberg, grandsons LeRoy, Brian, and Lucas, brother Thomas, grandson Herbert Goss, great-grandson Mason Goss and grandson Joshua Munnik.

A Celebration of Life will be held at his home on Saturday, April 4th beginning at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to Braden's Chapel Baptist Church in Speedwell, TN.

Martin Wilson Funeral Home of LaFollette is in charge of these arrangements.

Mr. Hilger's guestbook may be viewed at www.martinwilsonfuneralhome.com