June 16, 1935 – September 5, 2023
Gerald Duane Hile, born June 16, 1935, died September 5, 2023. While in hospice, Gerald peacefully passed under the constant care and loving companionship of his beloved spouse of the last nine years, Norma “Jean” Ray. His rest is well deserved after living for the last few years with Alzheimer’s/dementia, which stole from him many of the memories and skills we celebrate below. So, we remember for him and celebrate his life.
Gerald is preceded in death by his first spouse, Carolyn Jean Hile, who is the mother of his three sons who survive him, Steven R. Watkins (Lorraine) of Denver, Colo., Michael W. Hile (Silverio) of Indianapolis, and Gary S. Hile (Pamela) of Orlando, Fla., and their respective families. He also is survived by Jean’s daughters who became his family, Tammy Juriansz (Robert) of Coventry, R.I., Desiree Harning (Patrick), of Powell, Ohio, and Terrie Chambers (Duane) of Noblesville, and their respective families.
Gerald was born in Columbia City, Ind., the third of three sons to Joseph Merle and Divona Hile. His oldest brother, Warren Hile (Dixie), predeceased him and his second oldest brother, Lowell Hile (Nancy) survives him. He was a loyal member of Jefferson High School class of 1953 and remained close to his friends from there. He was a Journeyman mold maker and an expert tool and die maker who, as a member of the United Rubber Workers, worked in the Northern Indiana rubber parts industry for over 40 years. He took pride in the fact that he was known to all as the man who could make or fix anything and make things work. When he was not telling someone about the project he was working on or contemplating, he would be telling them funny stories about his time spent in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps as a food safety inspector (1958-59) or his misspent youth catching and trucking chickens to the markets in Chicago and Detroit.
He was a member of the Cicero Seventh-day Adventist Church and was active in church activities and functions during his life, including, at various times, holding the positions of Elder, Deacon and Sabbath School Teacher. He was and is loved.
A memorial service to celebrate Gerald’s life and commemorate his passing will be held at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Cicero Seventh-day Adventist Church, 24445 State Road 19, Cicero. The Church also will host a reception after the service.
Condolences: randallroberts.com