Arno H. Hilbert

Arno H. Hilbert, of Davenport, Iowa passed away peacefully on March 7, 2021, at Senior Star Assisted Living Center. He was 99 years old, just days shy of his 100th birthday. Services will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 4pm at Cunnick Collins Mortuary. Visitation will begin at 2pm with a Masonic service at 3:30pm. Military honors will be performed following the service. Burial will be at Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials in Arn's name may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or to the First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, Iowa.

Arn was born on March 30, 1921 to Adolf and Elfrieda Hilbert in Davenport, Iowa. At the age of 16, after graduation from 9th grade Arn enrolled at the Tri City Barber College. He opened his own barbershop at 1603 West Locust Street in Davenport and operated it for over 60 years. He was known for his involvement in NorthWest business community, and was recognized with a lifetime achievement award in 1996.

Arn was drafted into the U.S. Army on September 12, 1942 and did his basic training at Camp Kohler in Sacramento, California. He then went to Camp Crowder in Missouri where he was trained as a switchboard operator, and then transferred to Newport News, VA temporarily with the military police. As part of the 57th signal battalion, he then went to North Africa, and then on to Italy, where he was a veteran of the D-Day landings at Salerno and Anzio. His tour of duty also included southern France, Germany, and ending up at Innsbruck Austria as the war ended. When the commander found out he was a barber in civilian life, he was made the company barber and was allowed to charge 25 cents per haircut. Arn's official separation from the Army was October of 1945 from Camp McCoy. He received three service awards: the Good Conduct Medal, the Four Battle Zone Award, and the Victory Medal. In September of 2010, he was the 1000th person to go on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC for his service during World War II.

Arn married Dorothy Border on February 17, 1946 at the First Presbyterian Church in Davenport, Iowa. They were married for almost 65 years before she passed away in 2011. Arn semi-retired from barbering in 1999. He continued to barber part-time and did house calls to friends in retirement home. He was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Masonic Fraternal Lodge #221 (Mohassan Grotto), KAABA Shrine, Scottish Rite, Order of the Moose, and American Legion Post #26.

He is survived by his sons Greg (Heidi) Hilbert and Terry Hilbert, grandson Chris (Sarah) and granddaughter Amanda (Drew) Smith; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and sister Alta.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Senior Star for the special care given to Arn.

Online condolences can be made to the family by visiting his obituary at www.cunnick-collins.com