A service of remembrance was held Saturday, March 12, at Slininger-Schroder Funeral Home in Jefferson for Ivan Gene Hillman, 92, of Jefferson.
Words of comfort were offered by Pastor Bruce Webster of the Church of Christ in Jefferson. Honorary bearers were Kylie McDonald, Ellie McDonald, Marlie McDonald, Drake McDonald, Lori Gordon and Lana McDonald.
Casket bearers were Neil Hillman, Nick Hillman, Alex Gordon, Matthew Gordon, Rich Gordon and Randy McDonald. Interment was at the Paton Township Cemetery.
Ivan Gene Hillman was born May 4, 1923, to Glenn Hillman and Verna Bateman Hillman on a farm northwest of Dana, IA. He graduated from Dana High School in May of 1941.
After graduation, Ivan attended Iowa State University for two years. He studied agriculture and then returned to work on the family farm.
Ivan was united in marriage to Betty Calvert on May 5, 1945. They were married for 66 years. Ivan and Betty were the parents of two children, Jolene Kay and Rick Ivan.
Ivan’s greatest accomplishment was attending to the family farm for more than 40 years and raising two wonderful children. After their children were raised, Ivan and Betty enjoyed spending the winter months in Harlingen, TX. They met numerous wonderful people and enjoyed entertaining friends and family when they came to visit.
Ivan enjoyed playing softball for the Dana town team, gardening, Iowa State athletics, and attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s athletic activities, being their biggest fan.
Ivan was a 4-H leader, a member of the Dana city council, Dana Methodist Church and later a member of the Grand Junction Methodist Church.
Ivan took great pride in the ability to live independently until October of 2015. At that time he moved to Regency Park in Jefferson. He enjoyed the great care and compassion he received from the staff at Regency Park. Ivan died on March 10, 2016, at the age of 92 years.
Ivan devoted his life to his wife Betty, two children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Jolene German and her husband, Freddie, of Jefferson; son Rick Hillman and his wife Judy of Dana; grandchildren Lori Gordon (Rich) of Grand Junction, Lana McDonald (Randy) of Winterset, Nick Hillman of Dana, and Neil Hillman of Sunrise, FL; great-grandchildren Alex and Matthew Gordon, and Kylie, Ellie, Marlie, and Drake McDonald; step-granddaughter Teresa Cross (Dan) of Jefferson; and step-great-granddaughters Stephanie, Emily, and Zoe Joy. Ivan is also survived by his brothers Wayne Hillman of Alliance, NE, and Max Hillman of Springfield, MO; and his sister Martha Hillman of Marshalltown.
Ivan was preceded in death by his parents; wife Betty; and great-granddaughter Katie Jo Gordon.
