Fr. Gerald Hillesheim, 60, of Fairfax, formerly of Minneota, died March 14, 2003, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2003, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with Bishop John C. Nienstedt officiating. Burial will be at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs Cemetery in Leavenworth.
Visitation will be 3 - 8 p.m. Thursday at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, and 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. There will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. prayer service, both Thursday the the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth.
Gerald Arthur Hillesheim, the son of Raymond and Odelia (Huiras) Hillesheim was born June 10, 1942, in Sleepy Eye. He was baptized by Father Michael, and grew up on the family farm in Leavenworth Township. He attended country school District No.12, and Japanese Martyrs School until the eighth grade. Gerald became a student at Nazareth Hall in St. Paul, attending school there for six years, before moving to St. Paul Seminary to complete the last six years of his education.
He was ordained to Subdeaconate on March 11, 1967, at the Basilica of St. Mary's in Minneapolis, and ordained to the Deaconate on June 3, 1967, at the Cathedral in St. Paul. Father Gerald was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm on March 9, 1968. His First Solemn Mass was held on March 10, 1968, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. He became assistant priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, serving there for 13 years, after which he became pastor at St. George Catholic Church in St. George, and taught at Cathedral High School in New Ulm.
Father Gerald became pastor at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Minneota, St. Cyril's and St Methodius Catholic Church in Taunton, and St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, serving those parishes until moving to Fairfax in June 2002. Father Hillesheim was pastor at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax, St. Willibrord's Catholic Church in Gibbon, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Franklin, serving those parishes until his death.
Father Gerald's greatest love was his priesthood, being able to serve God's people. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, holding season tickets for more than 30 years. He enjoyed fishing, especially at Lake of the Woods, hunting deer, family gatherings and taking pictures of the family, watching all sports, watching movies, playing board games, canning and cooking, especially making homemade soup, and being with people. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus. Father Hillesheim had a great sensitivity to the grade and high school students and always had a positive attitude, and a smile for everyone.
Survivors include his mother Odelia Hillesheim of Springfield; sisters, Marion and husband Dwight McKenzie of Princeton, Barbara and husband Richard Filzen of New Ulm, and Bernadette and husband Thomas Kachelmeier of Sleepy Eye; brothers, Leonard "Lenny" Hillesheim of Sleepy Eye, and Daniel Hillesheim and Anthony Hillesheim of Springfield; 13 nieces and nephews; and 9 great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Raymond; a brother, Marvin; and a great-niece, Savannah Wroolie.
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