Robert Hillenbrand

Robert Charles Hillenbrand, 89, of Blomkest, died Monday, May 4th at his home. His funeral will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, May 8th at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar with interment in Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-7 pm, Thursday, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar and continue for one hour prior to the service on Friday.  Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Funeral arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar. www.hafh.org

Robert was born on a farm in Chippewa County, MN, on February 2, 1937, the son of John and Harriet (Negen) Hillenbrand. Later, the family moved to farms in rural Kandiyohi County, with Bob growing up on a farm close to Kandiyohi Lake. He attended country schools for his education. He was baptized in the Christian faith in the Reformed Church. From the time he was very young, anything that had a motor interested him.

On November 2, 1957, he was united in marriage to Jeanette McIlree at the Lutheran Church in Paynesville. Shortly thereafter Bob was instructed in Adult Confirmation at Zion Lutheran Church in Olivia where he became a member. He remained a member there until 1979 when the family became members of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar. At Redeemer, Bob served in the capacity of an elder and an usher, remaining a member until his death.

At a very young age, Bob started working, and in his first job he convinced a contractor that he could drive a big truck, and he hauled the first load of gravel to the site later known as “Harry’s Corner.” Later, he was employed by Nelson Construction, Paul’s Tire Shop, and Norling Bros building grain bins and the Blomkest Body Shop, which is what brought the family to live in Blomkest. In 1958 Bob got a position at Central Sheet Metal in Willmar, and he held this position for 25 years. At that time, the business was sold and jobs were very scarce, so he opened his own business, Hillenbrand Sheet Metal, on east Litchfield Ave in Willmar. He continued in this business until his retirement in 1999. At this time, he maintained his equipment and moved to a building in Blomkest.

To those who knew Bob well, he was thought of as a quiet humble Christian person. They also were aware that he could fix and repair most anything. His passion was cars and tractors, and anything else that was motorized. Bob was known to take a rusty old vehicle and with much labor and know-how, could turn it into a “collectors’ piece” of equipment. He was very ambitious throughout his lifetime and had difficulty being idle. Along with his wife, Bob was instrumental in purchasing and renovating seven rental units in Willmar. He was very handy with plumbing, heating, and planning the architectural outcome of these buildings and the homes that the couple live in. He was also extremely talented at landscaping. In 2004, the couple became custodians for two banks in the Willmar area, and this continued for many years.

Family was very important to Bob, and along with Jeanette, they raised six children, Keven, Allen, Gary, Tam, Audrey and Todd. Important occasions and holidays were always celebrated with all the family. Bob was also very willing to help the family correct malfunctions at their home and installing furnaces, etc. when needed.

He is survived by his children: Keven (Diane) Hillenbrand of Bouse, AZ, Allen (Doyen) Hillenbrand of Willmar, Gary (Mary) Hillenbrand of Willmar, Audrey (Todd) Raap of Spicer, Todd (Allison) Hillenbrand of Danube; son-in-law: Ron Hubert of Minnetonka; beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Ginger Gilbertson of Willmar.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Jeanette, daughter, Tam Hubert and sibling: Rodney Luverne, Roger, Melbourne, and Joan Johnson; granddaughter: Madie Hubert, and great-granddaughter, Ella Frank.

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