Arthur O. Hildebrand

Arthur Hildebrand, 87, of St. Joseph, died at his home Monday, October 29, 2007. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 AM Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Court St., St. Joseph. Rev. Thomas Batsky and Rev. Michael Roth will officiate. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens with military rites conducted by Stevensville American Legion #568. Friends may call from 6:00- 8:00 PM Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Hospice at Home. Friends wishing to send a condolence message may do so in the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com Art was born on September 17, 1920, in St. Joseph, Michigan, to Gustav & Katherine (Ryll) Hildebrand. He served his country in the United States Army from September 8, 1943 to January 1, 1946. On October 29, 1949, he married Eleanor Gerencser at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. During his life he worked as a tool and die maker and supervisor at Auto Specialties for 36 years. He was a member of the Stevensville American Legion and the Benton Harbor VFW. Arthur loved to travel, enjoyed sports, gardening, volunteering at Lakeland Hospital and Trinity Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife Eleanor of St. Joseph; three daughters, Karen Willming of South Haven, Laura (David) Parsons of St. Joseph, Beth (Brian) Cipriano of Downers Grove, IL; three grandchildren Morgan Willming, Margaret Cipriano, and Michael Cipriano; two sisters Alberta (Stanley) Ketelhut of Benton Harbor, Dorothy Eisbrenner of Watervliet; and one brother Erwin Hildebrand of Hartford. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter Meagan Willming, a brother Harold Hildebrand, and a sister Hildegard Stemm.