Obituary of Herman P. Hilsdorf

HORNELL: Herman P. Hilsdorf, 86, of Doorley Rd. passed away peacefully Sunday (April 13, 2014) at the Bath VA CLC-1 Center with his children by his side. Herman was born July 18, 1927 in Hornell, one of 10 children, to Conrad and Louise (Knopf) Hilsdorf. On July 3, 1950 he married the former Marjorie Brown to whom he was married to for 63 years. He was predeceased by Marjorie in May of 2013. He was also predeceased by an infant brother Robert Hilsdorf and brother George Hilsdorf as well as three sisters: Ethel Diehl, Mabel Shuster and Celia Lons. Herman was a 1946 graduate of Alfred Almond Central School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving our country proudly during WWII from 1946-47 in Japan and then enlisting and serving in the Coast Guard until 1955. He was a machinist for 41 years at the former SKF Ball Bearing Mfg. Co. off Seneca Rd. in Hornell. Herman was also a member of the Fremont Volunteer Ambulance Corp. Herman lived in Fremont for 55 years where he volunteered at the Fire Department before moving to Doorley Rd. in Hornell. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping with his family and was an avid planter of fruit and nut trees and loved gardening. He was member of the Hornell First Baptist Church. He will be fondly remembered as a kind-hearted, hard working, loving husband and father, and endearing grandfather who always had a gentle sense of humor, even in tough times. Herman is survived by two sons: Steven (Justine) Hilsdorf of Willseyville and Douglas (Karen) Hilsdorf of Bath, three daughters: Deborah (Russell) Storozow of Thomasville, N.C., Kathleen (Michael) Meyer of Baldwinsville and June (Stephen) Radder of Manilus, 9 grandchildren: Christopher Meyer, Ursula Hilsdorf, Meagan Hilsdorf, Michelle Meyer, Matthew Hilsdorf, Bryan Radder, Andrew Hilsdorf, Ashley Radder and MacKenzie Hilsdorf. Herman is also survived by two brothers: Conrad (Eloise) Hilsdorf of Canisteo and Charles Hilsdorf of Hornell, two sisters: Mary (Otis) Preston and Peggy (Clara) Clark all of Arkport. The family will receive friends from 10:00AM to 12:00PM Thursday at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main St. in Canisteo where funeral and committal services with military honors will take place immediately following calling hrs. at 12:00PM. Burial will be in the Fremont Cemetery, Fremont, N.Y. Memorial contributions in Herman Hilsdorf's name may be made to the Hornell First Baptist Church, 28 Church St. Hornell, N.Y. 14843 or the Bath VA Voluntary Services, Building 18, 76 Veterans Ave. Bath, N.Y. 14810. Service: Thursday, April 17, 2014 12:00 PM H. P. Smith & Son, Inc. 29 East Main St., Canisteo, NY Visitation: Thursday, April 17, 2014 10:00 AM - 12:00 H. P. Smith & Son, Inc. 29 East Main St., Canisteo, NY