Hiltrud Helene Hightower, 81, of Hillsboro died June 21, 2023, at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis County. Mrs. Hightower worked for Lutheran Church Missouri Synod after earning a GED and was an active community volunteer and church member. She was born June 26, 1939, in Glashoven, Germany.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Joe, whom she met in Germany while he was a sergeant in the Army.
She is survived by three children: Daniel (Karen) Hightower of Marina Del Rey, Calif., Milton (Marsha) Hightower of Hillsboro and Belinda (Lonnie) Wilfong of Hillsboro; eight grandchildren: Lauren, Heather, Elisha, Evan, Madeline, Nathan, Shelby and Kaitlynn; two grandchildren: Kordelia and Kessler; two brothers: Walter and Bernd; and a sister: Annarose.
She was preceded in death by four siblings.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday, June 26, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, at the funeral home. Burial will be at the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.