Dr. Robert Bob Gerhard Hilken

Not one to dawdle, long-time Portland businessman and life-long Lutheran, Robert Gerhard Hilken, entered the glorious Kingdom of God on Tuesday, Jan 15, after briefly suffering from complications involving Cancer. He was surrounded by his family, and the love of Christ, throughout his entire life. Bob cherished Virginia, his loving wife of more than 60 years and adored his children and his four grandchildren. He was a great man of integrity, faith, and financial acumen. He also loved everything to do with golf.

Born on April 20, 1928 in Winona, Minnesota, to Gerhard and Ottillia Hilken, Bob’s family moved to Portland in the mid 1930’s. Beginning his business career, he attended Commerce High School, home of the mighty “Stenographers”. He calculated that Commerce would point him in the right direction for business, and the 3 to 1 female to male ratio of the high school, wasn’t a bad draw either. He played football, baseball and excelled in basketball.

He served as an enlisted man in the Navy at the conclusion of World War II. After the war he entered Lewis and Clark College where he first met Virginia. Bob graduated in 1952 with a business degree, and returned to serve in the Korean War, this time as an officer. Shortly after that, he began his career in business.

Virginia admits jokingly, Bob’s first love was financial planning. He loved helping people develop their financial plan. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with making money”, he would often say. He served as Executive Vice President for Morgan Stanley, a firm he committed himself to for 49 years. He prided himself in working with clients from all financial backgrounds, and helping them achieve their financial goals.

He volunteered for the NW District of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, serving on the Board of Directors, and frequently donated his time to his church on a variety of committees, building programs and boards. He also championed Lutheran higher education. He helped to establish the Foundation for Concordia University Portland and served on that board for more than 30 years. Recently he and Virginia supported the Hilken Family Nursing Center at Concordia and the Hilken Community Stadium, which opened last spring. Bob also began the Foundation for Beaverton’s Care to Share, a network of west side area churches that help meet the needs of the less fortunate.

When Bob wasn’t working, volunteering or playing golf, he enjoyed faithfully watching his grandchildren participate in their various sporting events, activities or plays. Bob loved playing all types of games, and was always up for a good game of cards, any time of day or night. He and Virginia enjoyed traveling, especially with friends and he documented each stop with a photo album, sometime five. He took great pride in designing his home and its landscape, where he and Virginia have lived for 45 years. He was also a life-long philatelist where he specialized in collecting stamps with images pertaining to Martin Luther or having to do with golf.

Bob often exclaimed “If you want to get somewhere, you’ve got to LEAVE”. Although Bob has truly left us on this earth, it is the resurrection of Christ that extends the invitation to us all to join him in heaven.

Bob is survived by Virginia, son Douglas, wife Laurie, daughter Barbara Bernard, husband Joe, and his four grandchildren, Neil, Madelyn, Sean and Peter.

Please visit the guestbook portion of this online memorial. Please visit the "Special Links" section as well.

Remembrances in lieu of flowers may be made to one of the following:

1) Hilken Family Endowment Fund

Concordia University Foundation,

2811 NE Holman Street, Portland, Oregon, 97211

website: www.cu-portland.edu/foundation

2) Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Building Fund

13401 SW Benish Street,

Tigard, Oregon, 97223

website: www.orlc.net

3) Care to Share

PO Box 397,

Beaverton, Oregon 97075

website: caretosharehelp.org

Please visit these special links:

1) Hilken Community Stadium video - http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/05/new_in_northeast_concordia_uni.html

2) Hilken Community Stadium writeup - http://bringtheteamshome.com/2012/03/concordia-u-opens-hilken-community-stadium/

Thank You.