Hilton Henschen

Hilton H. Henschen, age 100, of Otsego, formerly of Austin and Norwood, died on Thursday, June 27, 2019, from complications of hip surgery, at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Anoka with Rev. Kirk Lee and Rev. James Sansom officiating. Music is provided by organist, Daniel Reineke and vocalist, Ellen Henschen.  Military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard, Vietnam Veterans of America #470,with taps played by Miles Rowland. Interment will take place at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Norwood Young America.

A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.

Hilton Herbert Henschen was born on April 29, 1919, to Wilhelm and Hulda (Gennrich) Henschen in rural Norwood, Minnesota.  He was baptized on May 11, 1919, by Rev.  August Rehwaldt and confirmed on April 9, 1933, by Rev. Herman AmEnd at Zion Lutheran Church in Cologne.  Hilton grew up in rural Norwood and attended Zion Lutheran School through the seventh grade and finished eighth grade at the public school.  Following his education, he farmed with his father until he entered the U.S. Army and served during WWII from 1942-1946.  Following his honorable discharge, Hilton returned to Norwood and was united in marriage to Carmen Kloth on August 16, 1946.  They made their home in Norwood where they raised their four children. Hilton attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for his chief engineer schooling.  He worked for Bongard’s Creamery for 39 years as plant foreman and chief engineer and retired in 1985.  He was a member of the American Legion, St. John’s Lutheran Church Men’s Club, and Mower County Senior Center.  Hilton served on the Norwood City Council, St. John’s Lutheran Church Council, and Mower County Senior Center Board.  Hilton enjoyed carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, travel and playing cards.  His wife, Carmen died on October 11, 1990.  Hilton moved to Austin in 1992, where he became a grandpa to Andrea Anderson, Gabrielle Hall and Jay Stiles. He served as an Usher/Greeter and Communion Server for shut-ins at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin. Hilton moved to Otsego to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and Richard in 2016. He enjoyed spending time with his family especially while making memories at the lake cabin together.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carmen; siblings, Raymond Henschen, Ellen Herrmann, Lester Henschen and Maynard Henschen;  and son-in-law, Richard Dailey.

Hilton is survived by his four children, Sandra Dailey of Otsego, Ronald (Ellen) Henschen of Edwardsville, Illinois, Janet (Troy) Peterson of Coon Rapids, and Karen (Kirk) Lee of Parkers Prairie; sister-in-law, Doreen Kloth of Eden Prairie; three grandchildren, Joshua (Vasilena Dzhoeva) Henschen,  Amanda (James) Sansom and Frank (William Perkins) Dailey; two great-grandchildren, Eliya and Jacob Sansom; nieces, nephews and extended family.

Urnbearers are Paul Kloth, Eric Klimek, James Henschen and Frank Dailey.