James E. Hileman

Mattoon, IL - James E. Hileman, age 81, of Mattoon, IL, passed away Sunday, November 1, 2009, at 1:20 a.m., at the Odd Fellow Rebekah home in Mattoon, IL.\r\nThe funeral service in his honor will begin at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 6, 2009, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL, with Reverend Robert Clark officiating. Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens with military rites conducted by the Mattoon VFW Post 4325. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. \r\nMr. Hileman was born September 6, 1928, in Jonesboro, IL, the son of Roy and Margaret (Sharf) Hileman. He married Jeanine Smith on December 12, 1948 in Indianapolis, IN. She passed away July 31, 1995. Survivors include their children, Michael J. Hileman and wife Kathleen of McKiney, TX; and Nancy M. Worthman of Indianapolis, IN; two grandsons, Derek Hileman and wife Ashley of Singapore, Malaysia; and Clinton Worthman and wife Rebekah of Indianapolis, IN; one great 'grandchild, Ophelia Hileman of Singapore, Malaysia; several nieces and nephews; and his soul-mate of twelve years, Rita Reitz of Mattoon, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.\r\nMr. Hileman served our country with the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from Purdue University with an Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering and later became the Vice President of Sales for ELASCO Labs in Mattoon, IL. He was a member of the Mattoon VFW Post 4325, and the American Legion and Moose Lodge of Mattoon, IL. Auto Racing was dear to his heart and attending the Indianapolis 500 was an every year occasion from his youth until his later years. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan and liked to golf. He enjoyed attending Drum and Bugle Corps performances in communities he visited and had served as an officer at one time. One of Jim's true pleasures was traveling through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio and sharing the history of the communities and stories of people he met and restaurants he visited. \r\nMemorials may be made to Lincoln Land Hospice, 700 Broadway Avenue East, Suite 9, Mattoon, IL 61938. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home and Lincoln Land Hospice for their care and kindness. \r\nPlease visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com to light a virtual candle in his honor and share a memory with the family. \r\n

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James E. Hileman

September 6, 2028 - November 1, 2009