H. Lorraine Hilsmier, 88, of Ossian, passed away on Saturday evening, Jan. 4, 2025, at Ossian Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Lorriane was born Dec. 3, 1936, in Bluffton, to Hugh and Honor (Kleinknecht) Harris. She married Gene A. Hilsmier in Muncie, who preceded her in death in 2010.
She graduated from Lancaster School and attended Fort Wayne Business School. Lorraine was a member of Ossian Presbyterian Church, Eastern Stars, Delta Theta Tai Chapter Epsilon Beth Sorority and held several offices. She worked at North American Van Lines and Ellenberger Bros. in Fort Wayne. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting.
Lorraine relocated to the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area in 1983, where she worked at AT&T headquarters and retired from Piece Goods Corporation Headquarters in 1998. She moved to Calabash (Beach), North Carolina before returning back to the Bluffton area in 2011.
Survivors include her son, Greg Hilsmier of North Carolina; a daughter, Anjanette Lassiter of Bluffton; four grandchildren, Bryce (Amanda) Bender, Brandt (Ashley) Bender of Huntington, Trey Bender of Zanesville, Cole Lemberg of Minnesota; eight great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Norm) Lipp of Ossian; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; children Julia and Jill (twins), and Mark A. Hilsmier; sisters, Patricia Geller and Jacquelyn Williams; a brother Richard Harris, along with her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton with the Rev. Lyle Breeding officiating. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery in Ossian. Calling will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Ossian Presbyterian Church, or Donor’s Choice and can be directed to the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.