HILZ, William “Bill” 1928 – 2020

William (Bill) Hilz Jr. died peacefully just shy of 92 years old at the Vulcan Extendicare on March 4, 2020.

Bill was born in 1928 at Reid Hill Farm. He was a farmer around the Vulcan area from the time his own dad could put him to work. He went to Olds College and also Henderson Secretarial for accounting. Besides farming, for six winters he did accounting and tax returns at G.A. Sales office in Vulcan.

He married Mary-Jane in 1950 and had 5 kids. Their farm was a busy place. Throughout the years it was a mixed farm with grain and cattle, and also at times pigs, chickens, turkeys and even ducks. Bill was old-school and could do just about anything on the farm including tending the land, animal husbandry, butchering, mechanics, welding, electrical, and construction. In his retirement years, as long as he could drive, Bill would visit the successful farm, now run by his son Warren, to take pictures of the machinery working in the field and offer “helpful” advice.

Bill and Mary-Jane enjoyed a close family in the early days with many fun dinners and singalongs with siblings and their kids and later, as their family grew, with kids and grandchildren. Music was often on the agenda and family weddings and anniversaries always included a big dance and often some musical numbers performed by one or more of the Hilz daughters. Bill and Mary-Jane enjoyed attending their grandkids’ events, both musical and sporting. They also did some travelling to Germany, across Canada, and down south to the US.

Bill was an avid community person in the United Church, Elks and later Masons. In his later years Bill enjoyed volunteering and singing at the Extendicare, putting together his song books just for those Sing-Alongs. Bill was a “character” with lots of stories and he will be missed.

Bill was predeceased by his beloved parents Elizabeth and William, his loving wife Mary-Jane (Randle), his daughter Terry (in infancy), his sisters Katy, Betty and Ethel, and his brother Richard. He is survived by his children Penny (Leighton) Rushfeldt, Peggy (Doug) Hartman, Betty (Mark) Herron, Warren (Trish) Hilz and Norma (Dave Bauer) Reimer; as well as his grandchildren and great grand-children Matt (Andrea, children – Devon and Tanner) Rushfeldt, Theresa (Troy Kusnyir) Rushfeldt, Chris (Mickel) Hartman, Nicole Hartman, Jim Herron, and Calvin, Brayden, Hayley and Dayna Hilz.

Bill’s family would like to express their gratitude to all the staff of the Vulcan Extendicare for their loving care.

Memorial Service will be held on Monday, March 9, 2020 at 1:30 pm at the Vulcan United Church (210 – 2 Ave. South), Sue MacDonald, D.M. officiating. Inurnment Vulcan Cemetery Columbarium.

Any tributes in Bill’s memory can be made to the Vulcan United Church Memorial Fund, Box 275, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0 or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.