Miessner, Hillis John

Hillis John Miessner, 86, of Cabot, Ark., went to be with the Lord and Savior on Jan. 14, 2013.

Hillis was born in Newhall, Iowa, to the late Gerhardt and Marie Miessner. He spent his years growing up on a farm near Newhall, and then the family moved into town and opened a cafe, where Hillis helped his parents. Hillis joined the Army as soon as he was old enough and proudly served in World War II. He was stationed in Germany at the end of the war. Hillis returned to the United States after the war and decided to go to photography school in Texas. It was while working for Leonard's Department Store as a photographer that he met the love of his life, Verla Moore.

Hillis and Verla were married Jan. 16, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas. They opened a photography studio in Fort Worth and began raising their family. Hillis began working for the Army Corps of Engineers as a photographer. He then worked for the Army's Department of Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO). While at this job, he took a position in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Hillis and Verla and their four kids spent five years in Germany. They returned to the United States and a job at LRAFB. Hillis retired from Civil Service in November 1986 and he and Verla remained in Cabot, Ark.

Hillis often reminisced fondly of their time spent in Germany. He enjoyed traveling and visiting friends and family.

Hilli was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Verla; their first child, Margaret; his father, Gerhardt; his mother, Marie; and his brother, Dale.

Hillis is survived by his son, Mark Miessner and wife Sheryl (Langston) Miessner of Cabot; grandson, Matthew and wife Brittany; great-granddaughter, Savannah; granddaughter, Heather; son, Allen Miessner of Cabot; granddaughter, Laura (Miessner) Brock and husband Dillon Brock of Fort Leonardwood, Mo.; son, Gary Miessner and wife Teri (Davis) Miessner of Maumelle, Ark.; and daughter, Gail Schwanke and husband Keith Schwanke, grandson, Joshua Schwanke, and grandson, Andrew Schwanke, all of Milford, Kan. Hillis is also survived by many special nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home in Cabot, Ark. The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cabot. Entombment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park in Jacksonville, under the direction of Moore's Cabot Funeral Home and Crematory (501) 843-5816.

In lieu of flowers/plants, the family requests donations be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cabot, Ark., or Hospice Home Care, Kaleidoscope of Caring, Inc. P.O. Box 21517, Little Rock, AR 72221-1517.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to family, friends, and co-workers who lifted us up in their prayers and to Hospice Home Care for providing a caring, supportive environment.

Bis Spater, Opa! We will miss you.

Please sign the online guest book at www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com.

Published Jan. 17, 2013 in The Gazette