Philip Jacob Pilger

Philip Jacob Pilger, 94, of Hokah, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.Philip was born on August 13, 1918 in Hokah to Louis and Ada Pilger. He graduated from St. Peter's High School. Philip enlisted in the United States Army on August 31, 1942. He was stationed in central Europe and was honorably discharged in January 1946. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth "Betty" Suessmith, who died in 1968. He later married Cassie Cairns in 1972. For many years, Philip worked as a farmer and in the maintenance department at Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse. He had his pilot's license and enjoyed flying airplanes until he was well into his 60s.Survivors include his step-children, LaVerda (Dudley) Pence of North Freedom, WI, Pauline (Elsworth) Holmen of Waseca, and Mark (Dana) Cairns of Hokah; grandchildren, Becky, John, Kasondra, Katrina, Karla, Kyle, and Christine; brother-in-law, Muret Berhow of Erskine, MN; and many great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Betty and Cassie; sisters, Dorothy Berhow and Lorraine (Orville) Erickson.The family would like to thank the staff at the Claddagh House in La Crescent for the kindness and support Philip received while he was a resident, and to the staff of 6W at Gundersen Lutheran for caring for him during his final days.Funeral service will be held at 1pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at the Hokah United Methodist Church with visitation two hours prior. Reverend Mark Bengtson will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hokah with full military honors provided by the Hokah American Legion. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Hokah United Methodist Church or the Hokah American Legion.Please share a memory of Philip with his family and sign the online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.