Arthur J. Hilmo

Funeral services for Arthur J. Hilmo, 89, of Davenport will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at Cunnick-Collins Mortuary chapel in Davenport. The family will greet friends from 3:00 p.m. until service time at the mortuary. Interment will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Hilmo passed away on Friday, August 9, 2013 at Genesis Medical Center – West Campus, Davenport. Arthur Johan Hilmo was born on April 18, 1924 in Tydal, Norway, the son of Birger and Ingeborg (Myrmo) Hilmo. As a child Arthur would cross country ski 5 miles to get to school. He emigrated from Norway through Ellis Island, NY in 1948 with his father and brother, Bjorn, relocating to Everett, WA. His mother, sister, Inger, and brother, Per came to the U.S. the following year. On April 16, 1949 he married Evelyn M. Lindstrom in Everett, WA. She preceded him in death in 1992. In 1957, he relocated to Davenport, IA where he worked for 25 years as a journeyman carpenter and foreman for Leonard Ewoldt. Arthur retired in 1982. He was a quiet man that was knighted by the King of Norway for his courageous efforts to smuggle Jews and other persecuted peoples of Norway to Sweden during the Nazi occupation of World War II. He was a true hero. He loved volunteering his time, ballroom dancing, square dancing, skiing, hunting and fishing. Arthur had traveled to Norway about seven times, and had also traveled to Hawaii, Europe, Egypt, China, Africa, and Australia. For over 50 years, Arthur was a member of Carpenters Local #4, as well as numerous other organizations including: Vikings Club Thor Lodge #9 (Moline, IL), Sons of Norway Storelva Lodge 1-655, CASI, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Retiring after 20 years of volunteer service at CASI, Arthur had logged 18,456 hours and was best known as the bread man delivering day old bread and pastries. Governor Branstadt presented him with the Volunteer of the Year Award. He is survived by his three Daughters: Signe (David) Conover of Macomb, MI, Sonja Hilmo of Davenport, Sylvia (Mark) Nyenhuis of Davenport; a Son: Chris (Ellen) Hilmo of Davenport; a Sister: Inger Hilmo Dow of Everett, WA; a Brother: Per (Mary Joy) Hilmo of San Francisco, CA; 9 Grandchildren: Jeffery and Jim Conover, Jennifer Robinson, Chris and Bradley Nyenhuis, Nicole, Danielle, and Taylor Hilmo; 9 Great-grandchildren; and Brothers and Sisters-in-law: Marvin (Rose) Lindstrom of Lanark, IL, Liz Lindstrom of Delmar, IA, Lolly Lindstrom of DeWitt, IA, Larry Fier of Maquoketa, IA. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Bjorn. Memorials may be directed to CASI, Davenport Lutheran Home, or to St. Mark Lutheran Church.