Jack “Jackie” L. Hildreth

Mr. Jack L. Hildreth, 77, Seymour, passed away on Friday, May 26, at the Lutheran Community Home with his loving family at his side. Jack was born on August 30, 1939, in Seymour, Indiana, the son of the late Jesse “Bud” and Jessie C. (Ruddick) Hildreth. On August 28, 1965, Jack married Jean Peterson in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Jack graduated from Shields High School in 1957. During his youth, he was affectionately nicknamed “Sticks” for his musical talents as drummer, band leader, and instructor in the Seymour area. He attended Butler University at the Jordan College of Music and earned a degree in music education. He also attended Indiana State University and received an MFA. He taught band for more than 15 years, with his teaching career ending at Henryville High School. He then returned to Seymour to take over Hildreth’s Liquor Mart, like his dad and his dad’s dad. He retired many years later as the owner of Hildreth’s.
His passion in life were his children and grandchildren, closely followed by his love of aviation. He met his wife in French Lick at a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) convention. He was a lifetime member of CAP, and he reached the rank of a full Colonel. He also served on the CAP National Headquarters staff. As an amateur pilot, he loved to fly his Cessna all around the country. From Wisconsin to Florida, he took many family trips and excursions. He also would take friends, family, and even the occasional stranger on flights, especially if they had never flown before. He was known to take people to “lunch”, surprising them when it involved a short flight to the restaurant. He was a founding member of the Freeman Field Army Air Museum and served on the museum board. He was also a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Tau Kappa Epsilon, FOP, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and Civil Air Patrol (CAP). He volunteered for many years at the EAA Oshkosh Airventure Airshow.
Jack will be missed by his wife Jean; three sons, Mike Hildreth, Joe (Jennifer) Hildreth, and Sean (Sara) Hildreth; and seven grandchildren, Brady, Kayla, Emily, Abby, Luke, Jonas, and Jude. He also leaves behind one brother, Charles W. “Chuck” (Kelly) Hildreth, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Renee Annette Hildreth.
Family and friends may gather at Voss and Sons Funeral Service on Tuesday, May 30, from 3 to 8 p.m., and at Zion Lutheran Church (1501 Gaiser Dr., Seymour) on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Funeral service will be at Zion Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 11:00 a.m., with Reverend Jeffrey Stuckwisch officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Freeman Field Army Air Museum and the Renee Hildreth Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Online condolences may be given on the funeral home website at www.vossfuneralservice.com.

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