Hilda Stettler

Hilda Ann Bowman Stettler, age 90, was called to her heavenly home on December 17, 2017. Hilda was born on October 23, 1927 in Concord, California to Alfred and Mary Bowman of Switzerland.

She loved music, and as a youth sang in the Swiss Society Choir of San Francisco with her sister and father. Hilda played the accordion, sang in her high school choirs, and was soloist at her baccalaureate. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1945, where she was known as "the girl with the beautiful voice."

On March 3, 1946 Hilda married Herbert Herman Stettler in San Francisco, California after waiting for his return from the Pacific during World War II. During that time, she worked in the offices of the Naval District of the War Dept. in San Francisco until 1947.

Together they opened their home in post-war Daly City, California to help found Hope Lutheran Church. She moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1962 where she worked at Smith's Menswear for nearly 25 years. Before retiring, she and her husband became active in the Pearl Harbor
Survivors Association, traveling around the United States for conventions, including numerous trips to Hawaii for Pearl Harbor Day remembrance. She lived in South Dakota for 3 years before moving to Lake Jackson, TX to be near family in 2004. A faithful member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Hilda volunteered as an office angel for VBS, and used her sewing talents to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief.

Over her lifetime, Hilda enjoyed bowling, golf, ping pong with her grandchildren, playing cards, and crossword puzzles. A kind woman with the gift of hospitality, her home was always open for family and friends. She was known lovingly as grandma "Tillie" by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents Alfred and Mary Bowman, her husband of 50 years, Herbert Stettler, her brother George Bowman, sisters Marie Castleberg and Lydia Ebright.

Hilda is survived by her four children, Ken Stettler (Linda) Weed, CA, Gary Stettler, Meadview, AZ, Ron Stettler (Cindy) Houston, Texas and Heidi Larsen (Steve) Lake Jackson, Texas, 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, niece Judy Schutz (Greg) , nephew Jim Bolliger (Diana) TN.

Services will be held at Santa Rosa Mortuary, Santa Rosa, California in January.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, Lake Jackson, TX - Building Fund.

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