Thomas Hiltner

Thomas B. "Tom" Hiltner, age 68 of Melrose, died Sunday, October 30, 2011 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, November 3 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Thomas Bernard Hiltner was born August 13, 1943 in Melrose, Minnesota to Norbert and Agnes (Herzog) Hiltner. On August 27, 1966 he married Shirley Laing at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Tom has been a lifelong resident of Melrose and worked at Stearns Electric for 32 years, retiring in 2005.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and was treasurer of United Steel Workers Union Local 8392 for Stearns Electric. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting, playing cards, and loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Shirle Hiltner of Melrose; daughters, Kim (Kris Johnson) Hiltner of St. Martin and Kelly (John) Carver of St. Paul; grandchildren, Haley and Jackson Carver; brothers and sisters, Jen Toenies of Melrose, Annie (Ervie) Thielen of New Munich, Mike (Ann) Hiltner of Cold Spring, Bridget (Vern) Westbrock of Rochester, Jim (Jan) Hiltner of Limon, Colorado, Ruben (Ialeen) Hiltner of Alexandria, Gene (Laura) Hiltner of Greely, Colorado, Mary Decker of Melrose, and Chuck (Ruth) Hiltner of Baxter; and sister-in-law, Iris Hiltner.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sisters, Jerry Hiltner, Lu Rieland, and Rose Mary Hiltner; and brothers-in-law, Marvie Rieland, Harry Toenies, and Dave Decker. Serving as urn bearer will be Shirle Hiltner. Cross bearer will be Haley Carver and scripture bearer will be Jackson Carver.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.