Clarence J. Hilfer

Clarence J. "Doc" Hilfer, 87, of Marblehead, Ohio, and formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, died Friday, June 3, 2011 at Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton, Ohio. He was born on April 9, 1924 in Cleveland, the son of the late Emil and Rose (Nemec) Hilfer. He worked as a machinist and tool and die maker at General Motors in Cleveland until his retirement in 1984. He was a very talented musician, playing with various bands throughout his life. He enjoyed teaching music, especially at the Higbee Company, located in the terminal tower in Cleveland, and also taught private lessons, many times in the evenings after he got home from work. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marblehead; member of the Danbury Senior Center, Danbury Twp.; member and square dancer of the Chagrin Valley Squares, Merry Go Rounds, and Carousels Dance Clubs in Cleveland. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary (Wallace) whom he married on May 10, 1947; daughter: Karen (Lee) Hendricks, Aurora, Ohio; grandson: Matthew (Kim) Hilfer; great grandchildren: Keri, Kali, and Kyle; daughter-in-law: Arlene Hilfer, Hiram, Ohio; nieces: Patricia Hilfer, Parma, Ohio; Kathleen (James) Kosmala, Cape Coral, Florida, Laureen (Timothy) Steele, Mentor, Ohio; nephew: Ronald (Lorraine) Hilfer, North Royalton, Ohio; great nieces and nephews: Michael Kosmala, Nicholas (Vanessa) Kosmala, Christopher Kosmala, Melanie Steele, Christine Steele, Rachel Hilfer; and great great niece: Sabrina Kosmala. He was preceded in death by his son: Trevor Hilfer; sister: Evelyn (Walter) Shaft; and brother: Emil "Bud" (Mildred) Hilfer. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2011 from 3-7pm at the Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home, Peninsula Chapel, 7755 E. Harbor Road, Lakeside-Marblehead, Ohio. Additional visitation will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 822 Barclay Street, Marblehead from 10am until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am, with Father Daniel J. Ring, officiating. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, 14609 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio at 2:30pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.