Lyle H. Hillmer

Lyle H. Hillmer, (97) passed away to be with Our Lord Jesus on September 25, 2017 at his Meadowlark Estates apartment in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born on August 13, 1920 in Mallard, Iowa to August and Rose Hillmer, the third of six children.

Lyle was a resident of Mason City, Iowa for 72 years and was a partner with a local accounting firm for 35 years. Lyle spent his youth in the Mallard, Iowa area helping with work on the farm. After high school graduation in 1938, he attended Hamilton Business School’s Executive Accounting Course in Mason City, Iowa. Lyle was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942, where he served during the war. Upon returning home in 1945, he briefly worked at the Mason City Portland Cement Company. Shortly after he began working for Frank Enbusk Company where he met his wife Doris Straube, whom he married in 1947. After working at the firm for 3 years he became a Certified Public Accountant and later became a partner in the firm. The Enbusk Company later merged with McGladrey and Associates where Lyle continued to work until he retired in 1982.

Lyle always had a great love for raising flowers. When people would stop by to admire his beautiful flower garden, he was more than happy to give them a tour. He was a Master Gardener and had a great wealth of knowledge about both flower and vegetable gardening that he enjoyed sharing with others. The Mason City Globe Gazette featured him upon several occasions for his gardening expertise. Upon retirement he took up the hobby of building model ships, completing eight ships of various sizes. Over several years, Lyle also wrote his memoirs, refinished furniture and focused on his longtime hobby of stamp collecting. Lyle was devoted to his faith and his church; he taught adult Sunday School for the majority of his life and also served on many committees at his church in Mason City. Lyle moved to Meadowlark Estates in July 2012 where he could be close to his family.

Lyle is survived by his three children: Steven (wife Barbara) of Lawrence, Kansas; Helen Graettinger (husband John) of Baldwin City, Kansas; and Christine Hensley (husband Craig, deceased) of The Woodlands, Texas; nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren; and his brother Ronald of Mallard, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; and his three sisters Violet Keopsell, Gladys Shepard, and Rosella Gramstad and his brother Stanley. A memorial service will be held in the upcoming months at a time when family can attend.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Lyle’s name to the Salvation Army and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13 ^th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.