Thomas “Tom” Hildebrandt
May 25th, 1962 - August 7th, 2024
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Tom's Obituary
Thomas “Tom” Hildebrandt, 62, of Buchanan, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at home.
Tom was born May 25, 1962 in Muskegon, Michigan to Carl & Lois (Berg) Hildebrandt. He graduated from Whitehall High School, Class of 1980. Tom made a career of serving his country in the United States Navy, plank owner on both the Carl Vincent and the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carriers; he also served at SIMA Norfolk, on the Simon Lake – sub tender, and the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier. Tom retired from the Navy in July of 2000. As his naval career was ending Tom secured employment with American Electric Power at the DC Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, and then relocated the family to Buchanan. He spent the next twenty-one years in the Operations department, retiring in June of 2021 as a Senior Reactor Operator, but then returned as an instructor until June of 2024. Tom was a member of the Buchanan American Legion Post #51 and the National Rifle Association. In his free time, Tom enjoyed the time spent outdoors listening to music and letting each day unfold like a flower. He loved his family and cherished time spent with friends.
Tom is survived by his wife Deborah that he married April 8, 1994; his children-Adrienne Cox of Niles, MI, Elizabeth Fry of Lincoln Park, MI, Danielle Miller of Lakeland, FL, Magdalina Hildebrandt of Berrien Springs, Sydney (Kaleb McDonald) Hildebrandt of Buchanan; 5 grandchildren-Naomi (Emire) Kyra, Damien, Ezra & Lillian; great-granddaughter Sa’Riyha; his siblings-Mitzi Luttrull of Montague, MI, William (Janie) Hildebrandt of Whitehall, MI, John Hildebrandt of Cabot, AR, Andrew (Mary) Hildebrandt of Sparta, MI; sister-in-law Linda Agne of Flat Rock, MI; brother-in-law Alan Miller of Bowling Green, MO; his uncle Ted Berg of Chicago, IL; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Jim Luttrull Sr. and sister-in-law Kathleen Guffey.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 5:30pm Friday, August 16, 2024, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 509 West 4th St., Buchanan with Fr. Emmanuel Mbah officiating. Military rites will follow the Funeral Mass. Dinner and fellowship from 6:30pm till 10:00 will be in the church hall following services.
Memorial contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to Tunnels to Towers or The Lieber Institute. Arrangements have been entrusted to Swem Chapel, Buchanan, 269-695-6881. Those wishing to sign Tom’s Memory Book online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
Tom was born May 25, 1962 in Muskegon, Michigan to Carl & Lois (Berg) Hildebrandt. He graduated from Whitehall High School, Class of 1980. Tom made a career of serving his country in the United States Navy, plank owner on both the Carl Vincent and the Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carriers; he also served at SIMA Norfolk, on the Simon Lake – sub tender, and the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier. Tom retired from the Navy in July of 2000. As his naval career was ending Tom secured employment with American Electric Power at the DC Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, and then relocated the family to Buchanan. He spent the next twenty-one years in the Operations department, retiring in June of 2021 as a Senior Reactor Operator, but then returned as an instructor until June of 2024. Tom was a member of the Buchanan American Legion Post #51 and the National Rifle Association. In his free time, Tom enjoyed the time spent outdoors listening to music and letting each day unfold like a flower. He loved his family and cherished time spent with friends.
Tom is survived by his wife Deborah that he married April 8, 1994; his children-Adrienne Cox of Niles, MI, Elizabeth Fry of Lincoln Park, MI, Danielle Miller of Lakeland, FL, Magdalina Hildebrandt of Berrien Springs, Sydney (Kaleb McDonald) Hildebrandt of Buchanan; 5 grandchildren-Naomi (Emire) Kyra, Damien, Ezra & Lillian; great-granddaughter Sa’Riyha; his siblings-Mitzi Luttrull of Montague, MI, William (Janie) Hildebrandt of Whitehall, MI, John Hildebrandt of Cabot, AR, Andrew (Mary) Hildebrandt of Sparta, MI; sister-in-law Linda Agne of Flat Rock, MI; brother-in-law Alan Miller of Bowling Green, MO; his uncle Ted Berg of Chicago, IL; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Jim Luttrull Sr. and sister-in-law Kathleen Guffey.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 5:30pm Friday, August 16, 2024, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 509 West 4th St., Buchanan with Fr. Emmanuel Mbah officiating. Military rites will follow the Funeral Mass. Dinner and fellowship from 6:30pm till 10:00 will be in the church hall following services.
Memorial contributions in Tom’s memory may be made to Tunnels to Towers or The Lieber Institute. Arrangements have been entrusted to Swem Chapel, Buchanan, 269-695-6881. Those wishing to sign Tom’s Memory Book online may do so at www.swemchapel.com.
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