« Return to Obituaries | Print
Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday, December 6, 2019, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora
Visitation: 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening, December 5, 2019, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Rosary: 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home
Interment: St. Stephen Cemetery
Clemence Leroy Hilmes, age 80, of Flora, Illinois, passed away Monday morning, December 2, 2019, at his home.
He was born October 14, 1939, in Sigel, Illinois, the son of Leo and Grace (Houser) Hilmes. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Louise Pope on September 14, 1968, in Flora, and they have shared 51 wedding anniversaries together.
Clem was a graduate of Neoga High School. He was a longtime farmer and Angus livestock breeder in Clay County, and was a member of the Angus Association. He was a past member of the Clay Electric Board and had been a Clay County 4-H leader. Clem attended St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora where he and Marilyn had been longtime members.
He is survived by his wife: Marilyn Hilmes of Flora; 3 children: Brigitte (Rory) Waller of Kalispell, MT, Hank (Dina) Hilmes of Flora, and Gretchen Woomer of Newton; 5 grandchildren: Drennan Waller of Denver, CO, Cole (Preslee) Waller of Denver CO, Dalton (Beth) Hilmes of Flora, Jonah Woomer (Lauren Allen) of Flora, and Bodee Woomer of Flora; 2 great-grandchildren: Knox Waller of Denver, CO, and Judson Hilmes of Flora; 2 sisters: Norma (Lloyd) Dean of Neoga and Patricia Brazier of Casey; and several nieces and nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Leo and Grace Hilmes; 2 brothers: Henry Francis Hilmes and Robert Hilmes; 1 sister: Catherine Butcher; and 2 brothers-in-law: Xephon Butcher and Kenny Helmuth.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, December 6, 2019, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora with Father James Nall officiating. Burial will follow in St. Stephen Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Frank & Bright Funeral Home with a Rosary service to begin at 8 p.m. Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County 4-H Livestock Committee and will be accepted through the funeral home.
We are so sorry for your loss.
Very sorry for your loss.
Sorry to hear about Clem God Bless
Marilyn, our hearts are filled with wonderful memories of good times that we have shared with you and Clem. He was a good friend, husband, father -- and he will be missed. Our hearts weep for you and the family. We love you all . Dr. Bunnell
To the Hilmes family, my Thoughts, Prayers and Love sent to you all!! I Love each and everyone of you❤Clem will be FOREVER missed. Such a dedicated Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Friend & Farmer.❤
Sorry for your loss
Marilyn, our love and prayers to the family. Lots of good memories of a long time good friend. He is going to be greatly missed.
Our most sincere condolences. We will miss Clem. Our prayers are with you.
I’m going to miss that big smile! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We are so sorry for your loss. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.🙏🏻
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Clem was one of a kind person. They never come any better than Clem.
Clem and his sense of humor will be missed by many. Love for his family and friends
Marilyn, Hank, Gretchen and Families: We are so very sorry to hear of Clem’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with y’all as you grieve your loss. We always enjoyed visiting with him back in the day. He will be missed by all who knew him. God bless and keep you during this difficult time and in the days to come. RIP Clem🙏
So sorry for your loss, prayers for the family.
So sorry to hear that he passed away in our thoughts and prayers
We are so sad to hear about Clem! He was a great guy and neighbor! Sending our love and prayers for you all!!!
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
we are so sorry for your loss
Marilyn and family: We are so sorry for your loss. God Bless.
First off what a friend! No matter when, where or what Clem would be their. His witt & humor was second to nun some that did not know him may be a little red faced but those that knew him & loved him just said that's Clem. I know it is hard to go on but the good times outweigh the bad in time. Please accept my sincere condolences along with prayers for each of the family.
Sympathy is extended to The Family. Sorry for Your Loss.
Marilyn & family We are so sorry for your loss. Clem leaves behind wonderful memories to you all. I remember him farming down south and stopping in at Grandma Gill's house for some SWEETS!! and all the "GOOD TIMES" at the fairs showing animals. He loved his family dearly. Thinking of you all in the days ahead.
So sorry for your loss. Clem was a good man and will be missed. Prayers to the family.
I imagine he’s wrangling cows & telling a joke ..... with a smile!! Going to miss him!!
We are so sorry to hear about Clem! He was a great neighbor! Comforting prayers to you Marilyn and family!
So sorry for your loss. I'm sure he n John are fishing in some nearby Pond. Was a good man. Hug's Luv n prayer's my freind Gretchen, to you and your family.
Im so sorry for your loss...Clem was a hard working man who loved and joked with many..your home was always a special place for me...love you all
Marilyn and family - saddened to hear about Clem. Prayers for you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family
Clem was one of the good guys. Many great memories of Clem and the Clay County Fair...where he loved laughing with his 4-H kids. Prayers of comfort for the family.
So very sorry to hear this. I have so many fond memories with you all showing cows. Praying for comfort.
I am so sorry for your loss. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
Some of the best times I have had, was with Clim. .What a great guy. So sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are certainly with the family at this difficult time.
Some of the best times I have had, was with Clim. .What a great guy. So sorry for your loss.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Clem was a such a kind man and I will always remember him with smile on his face and a chuckle in his laugh. I pray your memories bring you peace.
I'm so sorry & sad to hear about Clem. Thinking of all of you! Many fond memories of him. My thoughts & Love to all!
Very, very sorry to hear about Clem. He was a good man == and a bit of a character at time.
To my sweet sweet Uncle Clem!! I will always remember your laugh and your fun sense of humor!! You made my summertime visits so much fun!!! You will be missed!!!! Love, your best pig wrangler girl Kelli 🙏❤️
Marilyn, Hank, and family, So sad to hear of Clem’s passing. He was always so fun to talk with every time I visited with him. He was so kind to everyone and will be greatly missed.
We are so sorry for your loss. Vkem was a wonderful, fun loving man. Prayers of comfort for all the family.
Sorry to learn of Clem's passing---was a great community leader --loved his livestock man---always a positive person. Truly a salt of the earth individual. .
Words alone cannot express how sad I am at your loss The Clay County Fair will miss his smile and stories plus his willingness to help. Lots of wonderful memories!
Love and prayers..Sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss. Clem was well liked and you will have countless of memories to help your family through the hard days ahead
So sorry for your loss, our thought and prayers are with you all.
Marilyn thinking of you and your family. Prayers for you.❤
So sorry for your loss. Prayers and thoughts for you and your family. 💔🙏
Very sorry to hear of Clem passing. He is surely knowing great peace now with our heavenly father! No more pain and suffering. Thinking of your entire family. Love and prayers!
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. We are praying for comfort for all of you.
I am so sorry to hear about Clem..your family was such a large part of my childhood memories, I love you all and will be thinking of you..Heaven just welcomed a beautiful man..love you Clem, see you later.😘❤
I am so very sorry for the loss of Clem. I will miss his twinkling eyes as he would tell a joke and his contagious laugh whenever he was in the lab. Prayers for comfort at this most difficult time for his family.
Marilyn and Family, please accept my sincere sympathy.
So very sorry for loss, Aunt Marilyn & family. Clem was one of the good guys. He will be missed.
Norma, sorry to hear of your loss.
So Sorry for you Loss. Prayer to All The Family.
Marilyn, so sorry for your loss. We had such great times together. So many memories, some good and some bad but in all things we remained “Brothers” in spirit. He will truly be missed.
Marilyn and Family, I am sorry to hear about Clem's passing. Clem was an inspiration to me as a boy, I spent quite a number of hours over several years, on his farm doing chores and helping with some farm work. Clem would give me things to do, and seemed to have confidence in me that I could do them, that instills confidence and independence at an early age. I have always appreciated that. Best wishes to the family.
Maryilyn, so sorry for your loss. He will be missed. Have such great memories with the two of you. Prayers for you and your family. 🙏
To family and friends of Clem, please accept our sympathy. Clem was such a nice fellow and always had a friendly word. And you could always count on a big smile every time you saw him! May the Good Lord be gracious to you and give you peace.
Marilyn, I am so sorry for your loss. I know that words can not ease your grief. Praying for your comfort and peace at this time. God bless you and your family.
So sorry for your loss,there never will be another Clemhe always had something to say.
So sorry for your loss. Always enjoyed the fun times at the Flora fair. Thinking of you and your family. Andrew Fearn
Marilyn and family, So sorry for your loss. Will always remember the way he would make people laugh. Jerry & Kathy Price
So sorry for the family for the loss of your loved one.
So sorry to hear of you loss. Our sympathy & prayers are with you & yours at this time.
Wish to extend my condolences to the family of Clem, know he had a long hard time, so sorry for your pain and sorrow, and hoping peace and comfort cover you and wipe away the pain of your loss, leaving you with such good memories
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]