Vernon E. Hilgefort, Age 84, Mary St., Fort Loramie (Newport) passed away of natural causes Wednesday afternoon, July 8, 2015, at the Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney, Ohio.

He was born April 8, 1931, in Fort Loramie, Ohio, to the late William and Rose (Poeppelman) Hilgefort. On June 11, 1955, at St. Denis Catholic Church in Versailles, Vern married "Margie" Margaret (Drees) Hilgefort who survives.

Also surviving are four children: Karen & Gary Pleiman of Fort Loramie, Vicky & Ron Schulze of Fort Loramie, Jane & Gerry Ulrich of Sidney, and David & Kim Hilgefort of Dublin; fourteen grandchildren: Craig and Eric Pleiman, Leslie Boyer, Janelle Homan, Chad, Ryan, and Jay Schulze, Chris, Scott, Gayle and Matthew Ulrich, Kyle, Casey and Drew Hilgefort; twelve great-grandchildren; four siblings: Clete Hilgefort of Versailles, Edna & Eugene Ahlers of St. Marys, Eileen Ahlers of Fort Loramie, Phyllis & Les Sherman of Minster; sisters & brothers-in-law: Joyce Hilgefort of Minster, Urban & Pauline Drees of Yorkshire, Eileen Schulze, Lois Drees, Carl & Linda Drees, Alvin & Karen Drees, Edna Batty, and Pat & Bud Wright, all of Versailles.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Lester Hilgefort; sisters & brothers-in-law: Audrey Hilgefort, Paul Ahlers, Rita Drees, Merv Schulze, Paul Drees and Keith Batty.

A 1949 graduate of Fort Loramie High School, Mr. Hilgefort then served in the US Army during the Korean War. In 1993, Vern retired from Piqua Wheel Alignment & Body Shop where he had been an auto mechanic. He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and the Fort Loramie American Legion Post 355. Vern enjoyed his family and all of the family's fix-it projects. He also enjoyed country music, Reds baseball and playing cards. Over the years he played cards with several card clubs.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Newport with Rev. Steven Shoup presiding. Interment will follow at Sts. Peter & Paul Church Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion.

Friends may call Monday 3:00 to 8:00 PM and Tuesday 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Gehret Funeral Home, 64 Elm St., Fort Loramie. Memorials may be made to the charity of donor's choice. Condolences may be expressed at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.