Lawrence Hiler

Lawrence Edward Hiler died peacefully at his home in Walkerton, Indiana on June 1, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Larry was hoping for a few more years, but in the end was so incredibly grateful for his life, his family, and his friends. He felt he had a good ride.

Born in Chicago on September 20, 1945 to Robert John Hiler and Margaret Frances Malloy, Larry's early childhood revolved around the family's two flat where he lived with his parents, maternal grandmother, older brother Bob, and the family dog, Laddie. Larry attended St. Carthage - the same elementary school as his mother - until his family moved in 1953 to Walkerton, a small Indiana town. While at Walkerton High School, Larry met the love of his life, Janet Gilmer, whom he later married on April 3, 1971.

A proud 1969 Purdue University graduate, Larry maintained a relationship with the school throughout his life, eventually becoming president of the Purdue Library Council. In this role, Larry provided instrumental leadership in two major initiatives: the creation of the Wilmeth Active Learning Center, where the Hiler Theater was named in his honor, and the complete renovation of the library archives, which now contain the papers of Amelia Earhart and Neil Armstrong. In recognition of his significant contributions to the University, Larry received the President's Council Distinguished Pinnacle Award.

After graduating from Purdue, there was never any doubt that Larry would join the family foundry business started by his grandfather in 1946, Charles O. Hiler & Son. Legend has it he inspected his first casting at the tender age of two years old. Unfortunately, he promptly dropped it, breaking his left foot. This would be Larry's first and only workplace injury. Larry spent his teenage summers working in the plant, even through the labor riots and the strikes in the 1960's. Eventually, he became president of Hiler Industries, establishing it as a leader in the shell mold casting industry.

Larry pursued many interests over the course of his life that included numerous business ventures and start-ups, as well as banking and politics. He was an owner/director in the family-owned Farmers State Bank of Wyatt until it sold to 1st Source Bank, where he continued to serve on their board of directors for over 20 years. Larry was active in his brother John's congressional campaigns from 1980 to 1990 where they referred to him as "the numbers guy". His business ventures ranged from machine shops to battery management to healthy water, art galleries and peat moss, just to name a few. No matter what he did, he did it with drive, passion, integrity, intelligence, ingenuity and an ability to think outside the box.

In 1999 Larry stepped away from the daily operations of Hiler Industries, and moved his primary residence to Teton Village, Wyoming. He embraced the western lifestyle and the small-town atmosphere of Jackson Hole. He loved the natural beauty of the Grand Tetons and enjoyed hiking, scenic drives, looking for wildlife, and Friday night at The Wort. An avid skier, rumor has it if he said "follow me" and you did, you were up for a real adventure.

During this time, Larry began to dig a lake on the Walkerton family property. Larry enjoyed watching his kids and grandkids down at the waterfront fishing, swimming and waterskiing. His simple fishing advice, "You need to talk to the fish and just reel them in" still baffles us all. Loving nature and wildlife, when an Osprey pair decided to make a nest near the lake, Larry's pride and excitement led to the name, Lake Osprey. For Larry, any time spent with friends and family was special. Top of his list was sitting around a campfire, whipping up a batch of his famous chili, having a glass of red wine, and talking about politics, or if you were really lucky, economics and monetary policy.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Robert J. Hiler Jr. He is survived by his wife Janet and their two daughters and their spouses and families: Laura and Andy Moravej and their sons Daniel and Michael, and Virginia and Joe Napoli and their boys August, Orion, and Cedar. His brother John "Jack" (Catherine) and daughters Alison, Caitlin, and Morgan and his sister Tricia (Dan Luck) and children Conor, Haley, Erin, Meagan, and Brady also survive him.

Visitation will be Thursday June 6, 2024 from 12:30 to 3:30 pm (EST) at the Palmer Funeral Home, within the Palmer Community Complex, 601 N. Michigan Street, Lakeville, IN followed by a Service beginning at 3:30 pm (EST). In recognition of Larry's six-year service in the United States Army Reserves, a Military Graveside Service will be held at 11:30 am (EST) on Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Pine Lake Cemetery, 1367 Pine Lake Avenue, Laporte, IN at the Hiler Family Mausoleum. All times are Eastern Standard Time.

Together with his wife Janet, Larry was a generous supporter of many community projects including the Hiler Media Center and the Walkerton Historical Society. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to The Walkerton Community Foundation, 301 Michigan Street, Walkerton, Indiana 46574. Online condolences may be offered to the Hiler family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.