In Memory of Allen W. Hilker

Allen W. Hilker, age 65, of Ida Grove, Iowa passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the Morningside Healthcare Community of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Private family burial will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2014 with a rosary service at 5:00 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com

Allen Wayne Hilker was born on May 9, 1949, in Ida Grove, Iowa to DeWayne and Vivian (Shearer) Hilker. Raised on the family farm, Allen attended Ida Grove School and graduated in 1967. After high school Allen went on to further his education at Iowa State University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Agriculture. Later Allen went on to receive a Masters degree in Agriculture.

Returning home to Ida Grove, Allen married his high school sweet heart Elizabeth Samson and the couple made their home on a farm North of Ida Grove. The couple was blessed with three children, Garrick, Christopher, and Erin.

Allen enjoyed farming which was his main occupation until retiring in 2008. He was currently working as a County Supervisor for Corwin Township.

Allen was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2008. He had chemo treatments and had undergone a stem cell transplant, and was battling Graft vs Host disease as a result of his stem cell transplant.

Allen was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a 4^th degree Knights of Columbus.  He served as a Corwin Township trustee, was a past president of Ida County Pork Producers, served on the hospital board, school board for 12 years and coached little league.

Allen enjoyed wrestling and was the official time keeper at the Ida Grove wrestling tournament, He also enjoyed spending time with his family, farming, his grandchildren, and in his younger years racquetball, biking with his children, and attending their sporting events.

Allen is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Hilker of Ida Grove, Iowa; children, Garrick (Heidi) Hilker of Hawthorne Woods, Illinois, Christopher (Jamie) Hilker of Rochester, Minnesota, Erin (Kory) Dausel of Cushing, Iowa; 6 grandchildren: Audrey, Vanessa, Elise, Myah, Addyson and Jaedyn; sister, Susan (Kent) Streck of Ida Grove, Iowa; niece, Tammy (Craig) Stevenson of Papillion, Nebraska; nephew, Timothy Streck of Ida Grove, Iowa and many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, DeWayne and Vivian Hilker.