Obituary of Daniel John Hiller

Daniel John Hiller died on 17 February 2013 following a brief but sudden illness. He was 70 years old and had lived in Auburndale, FL since 1991. He was born in Beaver Dam, WI on 7 July 1942. In 1947, the family moved to Hartford, where his father Glen continued to work in a bakery and his mother Genevieve continued to raise him, his four sisters, and his two brothers. He played baseball at St. Kilian Catholic School and was involved in track & field and wrestling at Hartford Union High School. Following his graduation from high school (one of the last classes at the "old" high school), he traveled by train to Fort Lewis in Washington State to begin service in the U.S. Army. Upon his return from the Army, he worked in Hartford while serving in the National Guard. In 1965 he married Barbara Dukelow in a large, traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Kilian's, followed by a formal dance and reception in Hartford. Two daughters would follow, with family car trips to Wyoming during hunting season and later holidays in Florida. He went on frequent fishing expeditions throughout Wisconsin and Canada with family and friends. He was a regular parishioner and usher at St. Kilian's Catholic Church. He worked as an insurance agent for many years at Reinemann & Hiller Insurance in downtown Hartford, where he got to know many of his fellow local business owners. He was also a longtime member of the Hartford Rotary Club and St. Kilian's chapter of Knights of Columbus. After escaping the snow of Wisconsin and moving to Florida, he and his wife continued to work, travel, and regularly attend St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Winter Haven. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing, beach vacations, being able to do landscaping year-round, and yearly get-togethers with longtime friends Dennis and Shirley Gimmel of Oconomowoc, WI. After official retirement, he and Barbara were able to take a dream trip to Alaska and have more frequent visits with the grandchildren. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Barbara Hiller, and their daughters, Tracy Angeles (Alexander) of Parker, CO and Brenda Philips (Serge) of Pembroke Pines, FL, as well as five grandchildren. He is further survived by siblings Glen Jr. (Jane) of Fort Myers, FL, Geraldine Hader of Hartford, Richard of Hartford, Barbara (James) Scharpf of Huilsburg, WI, and Mary Hiller of Hartford. He is preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws (Howard and Geneva Dukelow), sisters Donna Mae Hiller and Charlotte Kostolny, and brothers-in-law Jerome Hader and Gordon Kostolny. The family will receive friends from 9:30am till service time at 10:00am, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 in the St, Joseph Catholic Church Chapel in Winter Haven. A Funeral Mass will of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00am. Interment will follow at Auburndale Memorial Park. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Catholic Charities. Condolences may be sent via http://www.oakridgefuneralcare.com/ .