Services for Charles Hilsenbeck, 93, of Jefferson, Iowa will be 1:00 pm Thursday October 16, 2008 at the Slininger-Rossow Chapel in Jefferson.  Visitation will be after 9:00 am Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  Interment will be in the Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson, Iowa.

Charles is survived by his wife Gertrude Hilsenbeck of Jefferson, Iowa; 5 daughters:  Beverly Holloway of Georgia, Mary Thede of Jefferson, Iowa, Donna Dent of Arizona, Shirley Jordan of Des Moines, Iowa, and Linda Devilbiss of Perry, Iowa;  2 sons:  Chuck Hilsenbeck of Perry, Iowa and Duane Hilsenbeck of Ogden, Iowa.

Charles Wesley Hilsenbeck, 93, died of congestive heart failure at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa on Monday, October 13, 2008.

Charles was born at home to Elmer and Mabel Hilsenbeck on September 5, 1915 in Holt County near Maryville, Missouri.  He grew up with two brothers and three sisters.

In 1941, Charles was drafted by the United States Army into the 18th Engineers Company A.  For the next four years he fought in battles with Japan in the Aleutian Islands during WWII and also helped build the Alaskan Highway.  He later became the company’s cook until the cook stove exploded and he was severely burnt.  The burns were so bad that Charles was hospitalized for nearly three years and received many skin grafts.

Charles met and married Gertrude Mehman October 14, 1945 in Des Moines, Iowa.  The couple had seven children;  Beverly Holloway of Verlia, Georgia, Mary Thede of Jefferson, Chuck (Jane) Hilsenbeck of Perry, Donna Dent of Bullhead, Arizona, Duane (Sheila) Hilsenbeck of Ogden, Shirley Jordan of Des Moines and Linda Devilbiss of Perry.

Charles and Gertrude owned and operated the Bagley Café for a brief time before moving to the family farm west of Hwy 4 & Hwy 141.  Charles became a farmer and the family lived on the farm with the long lane and red out buildings until Charles retired in 1976.  For the past 32 years, 600 West Washington Street in Jefferson has been home.

Charles enjoyed camping and fishing and spent many winters in their 5th wheel camper in Donna, Texas.  Closer to home, Storm Lake was a favorite camp site.  He loved watching baseball on television, especially the Chicago Cubs.

Charles loved to garden and grew an abundance of vegetables in which he was always willing to share with family members.  He was an avid crossword puzzle worker and seldom missed a day without walking.  Until this last year, he had done his own lawn mowing and snow blowing of his corner lot and driveway.

Charles is survived by Gertrude, his wife of nearly 63 years, seven children, 21 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.  Also surviving is his sister Maxine Hoyle of Trenton, Missouri and his brother Delbert Hilsenbeck of Perry.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, two sisters, one infant granddaughter and one infant great grandson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family or to the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.