Obituary of William Irvin Hillis

William Irvin Hillis "Chev" was born to William and Winnifred Hillis of Macklin, Saskatchewan on October 17th, 1935. Chev and his younger brother Gerry spent many hours at their father's business, Hillis Brothers garage, where everybody had a nickname in those days. Irvin quickly became known as Chev and his younger brother Pontiac. Being that there were many Bill Hillis' in the area Chev's name stuck and soon Chev needed to be in brackets behind his real name because nobody knew who Irvin Hillis was. He attended Macklin School from 1-12 and then moved to Saskatoon to attend the University of Saskatchewan in the School of Agriculture. After graduating in 1956 he worked in Edmonton for a few years and then returned to Macklin to carry on the family tradition of farming. He met the love of his life, Florence Kohlman, in 1962 and a year later they were married. They raised their 3 children on a farm north of Macklin. Chev played an active role in the community volunteering many hours to organizations such as Kinsmen, Minor Sports, and working as an RM councillor. He was a founding member of Kinsmen Telemiracle, and continued on with the K-40 club. As a young man he enjoyed such things as baseball, hockey, curling, and water skiing. His favorite summer activity was spending a day at Macklin Lake at the family cabin. Chev stayed active in his later years golfing every morning with his golf buddies in Macklin in summer and Mesa in winter. He enjoyed watching all the grandchildren in their many activities and everyone could recognize his voice in the crowd. Chev passed away on January 24, 2014 at the Provost Health Centre at 78 years of age. Chev will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his wife of over 50 years, Florence; children, Marty and his son, Colton; Bill (Suzette) and their children, Cameron, Brian, Jared & Ian; Sherry and her children, Emmett & Jessica; brother, Gerry (Brenda) and their children, Jamie, Perry, Tyler; brothers and sisters in law, Paula (Rudy) Hollman, George (Theresa) Kohlman, Pius† (Loretta) Kohlman, Tony (Diane) Kohlman, Lorraine (Norbert†) Sieben, Joey (Lorraine) Kohlman, Eleanor (Harry) Jamieson, Celine (Larry) Fischer, Gerry (Gilbert) Kletzel, Alice† (Dwaine) Simonson, Gilbert (Noreen) Kohlman, Danny (Marie) Kohlman, Elaine (Gerard) Reinbold; as well as many extended nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors. Chev was predeceased by an infant daughter, Rosemary; brothers in law, Pius Kohlman and Norbert Sieben; sister in law, Alice Simonson.