Robert Rauch Hilke Sr.

Bob (Robert) Hilke Sr. of International Falls, Minnesota died August 8, 2023. Bob was born December 9, 1936 in International Falls to Ferdinand and Dorothy Hilke. Bob graduated from International Falls High School in 1955 and was active in the violin section of the school orchestra. He met his wife Mary while attending St. Cloud State University where he graduated with a teaching degree in Industrial Arts in 1960. Bob began his teaching career in Portland Oregon, and returned in 1964 to complete his teaching career in International Falls. Bob and Mary celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary before Mary passed in 2013. Bob spent the last years of his life with his life partner, Henrietta (Eddie) Blaha, and they enjoyed traveling, visiting friends and family, and especially spending time together on Rainy Lake and in Grayling, Michigan. Bob leaves behind a legacy of education and service. Bob is well known in the Borderland area for teaching high school industrial arts including woodworking, metal and welding, with many students having pursued vocations in the skills he taught. It is common to hear former students say, "I had Mr. Hilke and I still have my tool box I made in his shop class!" He loved photography and helped many students enhance their photography skills including dark-room developing of their own photos while serving as the annual student yearbook advisor. The students dedicated the annual edition of the Falls High School yearbook to Mr. Hilke in his final year of teaching before retirement. For many summers, Bob wore a captain's hat as he provided boat tours on Rainy Lake aboard the Betsy Anna and The Pride of Rainy Lake tour boats. Bob is also known for his lifelong association with Ernest Oberholtzer and the Ernest Oberholtzer Foundation, having spent numerous summer adventures as Ober's canoe companion including their well-known 1964 canoe adventure to Nueltin Lake in the Hudson Bay region. Bob involved his entire family in hosting guided camping adventures on Rainy Lake that were sponsored by the Wilderness Society, creating wonderful lifelong memories for his family and guests. He was a life-long member of Faith United Church of Christ, and was for many years an active member of Gideons International and the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Elks club, and he served on the Forest Hill Cemetery Board. Bob leaves behind his life partner Eddie Blaha; children: Bob (Laurel) Hilke Jr., Highland UT, Betsy (Howard) Zub, Fort Frances Ontario, Dan (Bobbi) Hilke, Boise ID, Eddie's son, Michael (Tiara) Myhera, Chapin SC; grandchildren: Johnathan and Carmen Zub; Samantha, Laura, Michael, Cali, Nicholas, Ashley, Taylor and Hailey Hilke; and Alena Myhera; and great grand-children: Elle, Gannon, Carsen, Dani, Willow, Rowen, Oswald and Johnathan; sister Helen (Jim) Tingblad, St Cloud MN, and brother Ron (Georgia) Hilke, Akron OH; numerous other extended family members including cousins Suzie (Ralph) Johnson and Liz (Steve) Hams, and brothers-in-law Steve (Jackie) and Chuck (Dianne) Henning, and sister-in-law Nancy (Troy) Fix. A celebration of life memorial service will held at Faith United Church of Christ on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 10:00 am. If so desired, the family prefers memoriam be to Faith United Church of Christ or the American Cancer Society in memory of Bob.

Tributes

Robert Rauch Hilke Sr.

December 9, 1936 - August 8, 2023