Eugene C. Hiler, 93, Remembered as Former Fire Chief Who Loved the Outdoors

Eugene C. Hiler, owner of the Clawson Cab Company in the 1940s and a former Clawson police patrolman and fire chief, died on May 23, 2011 at the Avamere Residential Care Facility in St. Helens, OR.

Hiler had moved there to live with his niece, Linda Geer and her husband Don in 2006.

An avid outdoorsman, Hiler was described as a “Dr. Doolittle” by Nancy Bishop of Alpena, a friend of his for more than 30 years.

“He was a very honest and good man,” Bishop said. “A gentleman and very knowledgeable. He lived in a hunting camp and was like a Dr. Doolittle around Hubbard Lake. He was also a fantastic dancer, just a good man.”

Hiler, who was born in Gwin, MI and was the son of a lumberjack, briefly moved to Washington state and worked as a lumberjack himself. Hiler moved back to Michigan and worked for the Chrysler Corporation in 1937. In 1943, he joined the Air Force.

The staff sergeant was part of the 398th Bomb Group where he was a Ball Turret Gunner in a B-17 and flew 18 successful missions over Germany. His crew was shot down on its 19th mission outside of Berlin but all survived as the pilot managed to land on the autobahn. 

 The crew survived by hiding in the woods and eventually escaped through the “underground” and was treated at a hospital in England.

Hiler received several medals including the American Theater Ribbon, European, African, Middle East Theater Ribbons, two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and a World War II Victory Medal.

Hiler was discharged and moved back to Clawson in 1945 returned to his job at Chrysler. He later left and worked for the where he served as a patrolman and then moved on to the as a firefighter. He eventually worked his way up to fire chief until his retirement in 1977.

“He was also an instructor at the (Clawson) Fire Department on Thursday nights,” Hiler's daughter, Pam Frankenstein, said. “As kids we got to ride in the fire truck in quite a few Fourth of July parades.”

His love of the outdoors extended to hunting dear, bear and especially fishing. In his retirement, Hiler moved to Hubbard Lake where he was the caretaker of two hunting camps.

Hiler's niece, Linda Geer, said she was happy to keep the promise she had made to her uncle— to take care of him.

“Uncle was like a second father to me and my husband Don,” Geer said.

Hiler first lived in an assisted living community in Clatskanie, OR for two years and then moved to St. Helens, OR to the Avamere Residential Care Facility where Geer was an administrator.

“My uncle was always part of our families' lives in Washington and Oregon,” Geer said. “He would drive out from Michigan to be with us many, many times. He loved the Northwest, fishing, hunting and just to be with his brother (Duaine).”

Hiler is survived by his daughters Pam (Chuck) Frankenstein of Mid-Michigan and Sandra (Andrew) Shudra of Texas; son Clifford (Alice) Hiler of Gaylord; his sisters Vivian Boughner of Gaylord, Delores Ponkey of Florida, Beatrice Moralas of Kansas.

Each of his four brothers, Malvern (Margret) Hiler, Gaylord Hiler, Drondie (Ruth — deceased) Hiler and Duaine (Ruth) Hiler, preceded him in death. Hiler also had eight grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. His wife, Virginia Cluff Hiler, preceded him in death.

Hiler will be buried in Gaylord, MI at the Mount Hope Cemetery in September. Final details have not yet been completed. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held on June 2, 2011 at 2 p.m. at Avamere Residential Care Facility in St. Helens, OR located at 2400 Gable Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations to your local hospice center or wildlife/fishing organizations are welcomed.