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John Sherman Hillmer
January 23, 1940-September 7, 2022
Hillmer obit pic

John Hillmer, 82, of Manteca, California, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 7th of this year.  John was born on January 23rd, 1940 to Verna Hillmer (born Dahl) and Edgar Hillmer in New Ulm, Minnesota.

   While attending New Ulm High School, John participated in many sports, school clubs, and was 1958 Class President.

John received his Civil Engineering degree from South Dakota University in 1963. He participated in R.O.T.C., began his military career in the United States Army and served two tours in the Vietnam War, receiving the Bronze Star and other medals for his service.  In 1969, he married Anna “Dominique” Hillmer of Rotterdam, Netherlands, whom he had met while he was stationed in Belgium. In 1972, they welcomed their only child, Alexander. Their family moved to the state of Washington in 1973, where John earned his Masters degree in Civil Engineering from University of Washington. 

After many moves for John’s military service, John and Dominique made Manteca their home in 1980, where they would live for 41 years.  John retired from the military in 1983, as a Major in the United States Army Corp of Engineers. He went on to work for Northrup Grumman, in the Marine Division, as a Project Manager for 23 years, until his retirement in 2006.

   John loved all sports, travel, enjoyed playing racquetball, and often played tennis with his son. His favorite places to visit were Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. He really enjoyed taking long walks in the great outdoors. 

In late March, 2022, John and Dominique moved to Clearwater, a senior living community in Sonoma County, to be closer to their son and his family. Dominique passed away on May 17th, 2022.  Without his wife and the effects of dementia taking hold, John passed away less than four months later.

John and Dominique were married for 52 years and are survived by son Alexander, daughter-in-law Erin, their deeply loved grandchildren, Annabelle and Sebastian, John’s sister and brother-in-law Mary and Jim Murray of Colorado, and nieces and nephews.

   They will once again be joined together with their ashes scattered at sea in a private ceremony.


Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Saturday, November 26, 2022