Erwin Arthur Hiltscher

Dad was born in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, April 9, 1935 during the Great Depression, to Hans and Martha Hiltscher, immigrants from Germany. His family was part of a German speaking community in Chicago and Dad did not learn to speak or understand English until he started kindergarten.

August 11, 1949 Dad accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. His spiritual birthday was more significant to him than his physical birthday.

Dad loved music! In high school, he played violin with the school orchestra. He also played trombone with the Chicagoland Youth for Christ band every Saturday night in downtown Chicago.

Dad met Mom on a blind date, February 13, 1953. They were each helping friends who needed a chaperone. It was snowing hard that night. Mom remembers her blind date confidently addressing their safety concerns by saying, “If we can’t go forward, we’ll go sideways!” They attended a Youth for Christ Rally where Dad played trombone. He must have made a great first impression! The two were an item from that point on and married July 7, 1956.

Dad loved the Navy and enlisted on April 20, 1956. He was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for Boot Camp and was assigned to the Great Lakes Navy Band. After boot camp, he reported to the USS Randolph, CVA-15 attack aircraft carrier, the command ship of the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. While stationed there, he was able to visit multiple countries and many historic sites. He served until April 19, 1962.

In 1962, Dad moved his family of five to Hanover Park, Illinois. Dad and Mom began a new church in the neighborhood with families meeting in their home until they outgrew the space. They also began fostering infants and babies in addition to raising their own three girls. Over the course of time, they fostered over 24 children.

In 1966, Dad accepted a job with Moody Bible Institute and moved his family from Illinois to Texas! The move to Texas is a huge God-story, too long to tell here, but God’s goodness and provision were constantly on display.

Dad and Mom remained in the East Texas area serving at various churches over the past 56 years. Dad was a Bible teacher, a choir director and a deacon. He loved teaching the book of Revelation. He was a member of First Baptist Church Hawkins at the time of his death, but had been unable to attend after moving to Tyler due to his health.

Dad was witty, clever and a master with words. He also had a great sense of humor. He loved driving and enjoyed organizing trips to Branson, Missouri. He deeply loved Mom, his family and Jesus. He was overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s goodness and His gift of forgiveness through Christ Jesus. His deepest prayer was that all he loved would love Jesus, too, and walk with Him.

Dad is survived by the love of his life and wife of 67 years, Barbara Jean Hiltscher, of Tyler, Texas; siblings, Norma Goodson of Saint Paul, MN, John Hiltscher of Oak Park, Illinois, and Ruth Breckner of Fredericksburg, VA; three favorite daughters, Debbie Hiltscher Morris and her husband, John Paul Morris, DVM of Tyler, Texas, Nancy Hiltscher Craft and her husband, Michael Craft of Hawkins, Texas, and Dawn Hiltscher Powell and her husband, Thomas Powell, Jr. of Electra, Texas; four granddaughters, Amber Richmann and husband Samuel Richmann of Tyler, Texas, Summer Collins and husband Ryan Collins of Dallas, Texas, Storey Edwards and husband William Edwards of Plano, Texas, and Cambri Hendrix and husband Ryan Hendrix of Fort Worth, Texas; five grandsons, Jeremy Powell (retired Air Force) of Miami, Florida, Blake Powell (retired Navy) of Santee, California, Grant Powell of Wichita Falls, Texas, Garrett Powell and wife Katherine Powell of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Derek Craft of Hawkins, Texas; and nine dearly cherished great-grandchildren.

A time of visitation for Erwin will be held Saturday, September 2, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the Chapel of Tyler Memorial Funeral Home, immediately followed by the celebration of life beginning at 11:00 am. A military graveside service will occur Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm at the Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tylermemorial.com for the Hiltscher family.