Obituaries
James W. Hildreth
December 17, 1922 - April 2, 2019
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VISITATION
April 8, 2019 | 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. -
Yurs Funeral Home
405 E. Main Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 - Funeral
- April 8, 2019 | 11:00 A.M.
-
Yurs Funeral Home
405 E. Main Street
St. Charles, Illinois 60174 -
Burial Location
North Cemetery, St. Charles
James W. Hildreth, age 96, of St. Charles, passed away April 2, 2019. He was born to James and Gertrude Hildreth in Chicago, Illinois. He was employed for 38 years by U.S. Printing and Lithograph in St. Charles which became Diamond National in later years.
During World War II, Jim served in the 107th Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) in the Pacific Theater. He was especially proud to be part of the Seabees who helped to build the airbase on Tinian Island for the B-29 bombers, including those that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan to end the war.
In 1988, Jim started a woodworking hobby as part of the Fox Valley Workers Club and during the next 24 years annually produced several hundred handmade wooden toys for charities at Christmas. More than 6,000 children benefited from his efforts over the years, and a WGN-TV news story in 2006 dubbed him “Santa in the Suburbs.”
He is survived by his two sons, Kenneth (Mary) Hildreth of Lombard, Illinois and Lon Hildreth of Billerica, Massachusetts; two grandchildren, Sarah (Allin) Oberlin and Scott (Amy) Hildreth; great-granddaughter Emilia; and sister Mona Wasson.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife MaryLou, daughter-in-law Meg Hildreth, brother Robert Hildreth, sister Marjorie Boewe, half-sisters Elsie Smith and Atha Markley; his parents; and step-father William DeWolf.
Visitation will be from 9 – 11 A.M., Monday, April 8 at Yurs Funeral Home 405 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174. Funeral Services will follow at 11 A.M. at Yurs Funeral Home. Burial will be at North Cemetery, St. Charles. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Charles History Museum, 215 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174.
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Condolences
Michael app Elliott from San Felipe , TX
"Love you Uncle Jim.I hope the Lord Jesus Christ walked beside you in your journey home and have now joined all that went before you.What a happy reunion.May you Rest in Peace"
Mary Lencioni Pearson from Saint Charles, IL
"My husband John and I had the pleasure of living next door to Mr. Hildreth and his family for 4 years on fifth street with our 3 children. A nicer, kinder and more enjoyable person could not be found, Always had a smile and was wonderful to us and our 3 children. He took a picture one day of our 2 year old son Jon, digging in our garbage can that he had dumped over, Mr. Hildreth sent it to the Chronicle. We never knew until we saw the picture that following Thursday in the paper!! Ha ha, what a laugh, we still have that picture and still have wonderful thoughts of your father and mother , our deepest sympathy to you all!"
Barbara Elliott from THE PATCH Vic, Australia 3792, IL
"Goodbye Uncle Jim! You always had such a wonderful smile with a twinkle in your eye. I'll miss you! Your loving niece, Barbara"
Byron Morrison from Lombard, IL
"Ken, for you and your family, as time passes may your sorrow be replaced with joy as you remember the wonderful times you experienced with your father."