Hildebrand, Edward Clarence

Edward Clarence Hildebrand, 77, of Manchester, formerly of Ryan, died Wednesday morning, Jan. 11, 2012, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester. Mass of Resurrection: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ryan, with the Rev. John Flaherty officiating. Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home & Crematory in Manchester, with a 2 p.m. Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture service. Interment, with military rites: Calvary Cemetery, Ryan.

Edward was born Oct. 31, 1934, in Earlville, Iowa, the son of George and Frances (Nefzger) Hildebrand. He was raised and educated in the area, attending Catholic School. Edward served honorably in the United States Army during the Korean conflict.

Edward was united in marriage to Betty Jean Maiers on Nov. 21, 1956, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Earlville. Three daughters were born to this union. Together they farmed, of which 45 years were near Ryan. Edward and Betty moved to Manchester in 2009. Edward has been at the Good Neighbor Home since October 2011.

Edward was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He was a member of the Ryan American Legion and also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He will be remembered as one who loved his family and enjoyed fishing and going to the casino.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Hildebrand of Manchester; three daughters, Mary (David) Broghammer of Manchester, Kathy (John) Thole of Manchester and Rose (Tom) Steffensmeier; nine grandchildren, Ben Broghammer, Adam Broghammer, Nick Thole, Stacey (Mark) Fink, Jenny (Chad) Eschen, Jessie Thole, Michelle Thole, Eric Steffensmeier and Amy Steffensmeier; two great-grandchildren, Cooper Eschen and Madeline Fink and two on the way; three brothers, Leon (Laura) Hildebrand of Earlville, LeRoy (Marion) Hildebrand of Earlville and Ronald Hildebrand of Independence; three sisters, Tresa Mae Monaghan of Manchester, Agnes Steffensmeier of Dyersville and Katie (Eldon) Heims of Delhi; and sisters-in-law, Lois (James) Holtz of Manchester, JoAnn (Tom) Heffernan of Strawberry Point and Gloria Maiers of Dyersville.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents; his mother- and father-in-law, Nathan and Laurine Maiers; brothers-in-law, Joe Monaghan, Art Steffensmeier, Vernon Maiers and Al Menke; sister-in-law, Doris Menke; a niece, Diane Monaghan; and a nephew, Gary Hildebrand.

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Published Jan. 12, 2012, in The Gazette