Hillwig Sr.

James Russell Hillwig Sr., 71, of Bish Road, East Brady, Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County, a longtime Sugarcreek Township fire chief, answered his "final call" at 12:01 a.m. Monday at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler, surrounded by his family and friends.

Jim was born June 10, 1939, in Kaylor to Kenneth R. and Clare Weigle Hillwig.

Jim graduated from Karns City High School in 1957. He was a journeyman plumber working out of Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 47 of northwest Pennsylvania.

He had three children, James Hillwig and his wife, Donna, of Sugarcreek Township and their children, Eric Hindman and his wife, Erin, of Chicora, Justin Hindman and his fiancée, Megan, of Denver, Colo., Amanda Gaiser and her husband, Curt, of Chicora, and Ashley Hillwig at home; Scott Hillwig and his wife, Jessica, of Saxonburg and their children, Rickey and Marissa Mittica at home; and Kimberly Wimer and her husband, Brian, of Sugarcreek Township and their children, Kadie, Joshua and Aaron at home. Jim enjoyed the company of his nine great-grandchildren.

His parents gave Jim eight siblings — three brothers and five sisters, who survive him and all claim to be Jim's favorite — Clyde Hillwig of Monroeville, Darrel Hillwig and his wife, Margie, of Bruin, Dean Hillwig and his wife, Andrea, of Kaylor, Twila Williams and her husband, Ronald, of Kaylor, Doris Bevington and her husband, David, of Springville, N.Y., Velma Pennington and her husband, Bob, of Bruin, Anna Emanuelson and her husband, Carl, of Sugarcreek Township, and Dixie Bryant of Chicora. He is also survived by 21 nieces and nephews.

While raising his children, Jim was very active serving the community. He was a Sugarcreek Township Volunteer Fire Company chief for many years, as well as a lifetime member of the fire company. During the flood of 1980, he went nine days without rest trying to help those in need.

He was a founding member of the Rural Firefighters Association and was instrumental in forming the Sugarcreek Township Ambulance Service where he served as an EMT.

He was a former member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, where he served in various posts. He was a current member of Trinity Reformed Church of Bradys Bend. He also had belonged to the Masons.

On Feb. 21, 1998, he married Carolyn (Boltz) Rottman in Chicora. They had been best friends since she was five and he was 11. They spent their years together camping, attending grandchildren's functions and going on drives just to get lost.

When he married Carolyn, he inherited "the brats," Tricia Williams and her husband, James, of Orlando, Fla., Tammy Schuey of Worthington and her children, Tawnya Petrovic and her husband, Tony, of Greensburg and Travis Schuey at home; Tracy Parker and her husband, Scott, of Karns City and their children, Saxon, Tylar and Elizabeth, all at home; Matthew Rottman and his wife, Nicole, of East Brady and their children, Luke and Jordan, both at home.

Jimmy spent his life helping those he loved. He was always a phone call away and would drop everything to offer his advice, skills and hands.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. He enjoyed his morning drives through the countryside looking for wildlife, followed by breakfast at restaurants with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

<B>HILLWIG</B> — Friends of James Russell Hillwig Sr., who died Monday, Sept. 6, 2010, will be received from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. at <B>Hile Funeral Home </B>of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Reformed Church, Route 68, Bradys Bend, with the Rev. Pete Sapp, church pastor, and the Rev. Richard Seigfried, former pastor, co-officiating. There will be no viewing at church.Memorial contributions may be given to the VNA Inpatient Hospice, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001.Members of Sugarcreek Township Volunteer Fire Company will conduct a memorial service at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.For additional information, directions or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.