Irma R. Hilvers

Irma Rose Hilvers,90, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at St Rita’s Medical Center surrounded by her family.  She was born July 9, 1933 to Arthur and Helen (Gerdeman) Haunhorst on the family farm south of Delphos.  On April 18, 1953, she married Alfred Hilvers who passed away on March 27, 2015.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her daughters Kathy (Denny) Hageman, Sue Jettinghoff, and Jan Hilvers; her grandchildren Dr Jason (Dr Theresa) Hageman, Curt (Kayla) Hageman, Kristina (Jeremy) Miller, Todd (Ashley) Jettinghoff, and Chad Jettinghoff; her great grandchildren Henry and Rose Hageman, Lila and Aiden Hageman, Karter and Bristol Miller, and James and Delaney Jettinghoff;  her siblings Carol (Don) Krietemeyer, Eugene (Linda) Haunhorst, Sharon Doyle; her in laws Leonard (Virgilene) Hilvers; and many nieces and nephews.

Irma was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her sisters Alice (Barney) Dermer and Dorothy (John) Hohlbein and her great granddaughters Bridget and Norah Jettinghoff.

Irma was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church where she volunteered for Wednesday night bingo.  She was a past member of the Delphos Fire Ladies Auxiliary, and was an active member of the Delphos VFW Post #3035 and the Catholic Ladies of Columbia #40. 

Irma worked for the Delphos Herald and then at The United Telephone Company where she retired July, 1993.

While raising her young family, Irma spent countless hours at her sewing machine making clothing for all three of her girls.  Special memories were made when it was time to pick out everything needed for a new dress for Easter or Christmas.  She spent many hours making Barbie doll clothes for her children’s Christmas gifts. 

Irma was a fantastic cook and baker and she passed those skills to all of her daughters.  Her specialty was her raisin dressing, her monster and date pinwheel cookies, and her infamous zucchini bread.  She also made the best homemade macaroni and cheese.

She enjoyed supporting the Delphos St John Blue Jays, watching Ohio State football, traveling with family and friends, especially going to the casino to play the penny slot machines, and taking mother/daughter trips to Holmes County.  Treasured memories were made when she would host backyard 4th of July BBQ’s, chili parties in the woods, or on the many weekends when friends and family would gather around the trailer at Indian Lake.

She supported her grandchildren in their school and outside activities – always ready to go to a game, concert, play, or whatever they were involved in.  She was deeply proud of the adults they became. 

She could not have been more blessed than when she became a great grandma,   Those little smiles, hugs, and just wanting to sit on Gigi’s lap made her day. 

There is a poem called The Dash by Linda Ellis that talks about when your life begins and when it ends and how to spend the ‘dash’ in between those dates.  Her family feels that she put everything she could into that dash and then some.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 23, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 2:00-8:00 and one hour before Mass on Monday at Harter and Schier Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Parish Foundation or the Delphos Public Library.