Jerome "Jerry" J. Hillesheim, 81, of Sleepy Eye, MN died on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at Sleepy Eye Care Center. Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 PM Memorial Service will be held at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye, MN on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 7:30 PM Military rites by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard. Interment Woodland Hills Cemetery, Mankato, Wednesday at 11am. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye, MN. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com

Jerome Hillesheim was born on January 26, 1930 in Leavenworth, MN, the son of Hubert & Katherine (Schunk) Hillesheim. He grew up and attended country school in Leavenworth. After school Jerry worked at Ochs Brick. He hauled milk for a few years before serving in the US Army from April 1951 until January 1953 during the Korean Conflict. Jerry received the Combat Infantry Badge. Jerry married Ethel I. Knudson on December 15, 1967 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in North Mankato. He worked with Culligan and later for a Coop in Mankato and did drywall work on the side. In 1977, Jerry and Ethel purchased the Del-Roy Hotel and moved to Sleepy Eye. They later changed the name to Jerry's Place. Jerry enjoyed playing cards.
He is survived by sisters, Jul Sprenger and Rose Zollner both of New Ulm, Katherine (Gene) Feige of Hector, Annette (Art) Helget of Hanska, Mary
(Dennis) Stadick of New Ulm; brothers, Gilbert (Janet) of Glenwood, Gildard
(Lois) of St. Peter, Joe (Alice) of Sleepy Eye, Steven (Sandy) of New Ulm, aunt Verna Rein of Shakopee; nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Ethel in 1984, brothers, Lyle, Francis, Hubert, Jr. and sisters, Regina and Ruth.