Michael Jay Hillesland

Michael “Mike” Hillesland, age 52, of McGregor, Iowa, formerly of Calmar and Elkader, Iowa, died on Friday, March 30, 2007, at the Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital in Prairie du Chien, WI, from complications of cancer. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at the Calmar Lutheran Church, in Calmar, Iowa, with Rev. Norman Bauer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 to 8:00 on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel in Calmar, Iowa, and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning. Michael Jay Hillesland was born on September 7, 1954, the son of Harvey and Goldie Mae (Wangsness) Hillesland in Decorah, Iowa. He was baptized by Pastor J.N. Lunde and confirmed by Pastor Roger Hazen in 1968 at the Calmar Lutheran Church. He attended South Winn High School, graduating in 1972. Mike started his career as head golf superintendent at South Winn Golf Course, then at Shaffer Memorial in Fort Madison, Iowa, then moving to Elkader in 1979, working as golf superintendent for 26 years at the Elkader Golf and County Club. In 2005, he started working for Switchgrass Highland Bluffs Resort at McGregor, Iowa as head golf superintendent until his death. He was united in marriage to Ann Sexton in Reno, NV in 1984. They had one daughter, Kirby Mae and were later divorced. He loved the game of golf during his twenty-six years of service as superintendent at Elkader, having two holes in one. Mike was a member of the National and Iowa Golf Course Superintendent Associations, receiving an award for 25 years of service from the Iowa Association, while also being nominated for the superintendent of the year. Mike’s survivors, who will keep his memory alive, include his daughter: Kirby Hillesland, Elkader, IA. His parents: Harvey and Goldie Hillesland, Calmar, IA. One brother: Jim (Sue) Hillesland, Chicago, IL. One sister: Barbara (Greg) Drew, Manchester, IA. Nieces and nephews: Jarret & John Hillesland, Chicago, IL, Kaia & Aaron McConnell, Bluffton, IA and Blake Humpal, Manchester, IA. One great nephew: Jordan Rommes and one great niece: Kaylie Rommes, both of Bluffton, IA. Five Great Aunts and Uncles: Gladys Usgaard, Decorah, IA; Elva Roney, Rochester, MN; Olga Wangsness, Decorah, IA; and Ervin and Lorraine Wangsness, Calmar, IA. Eleven Aunts and Uncles: Colleen & Joe Fjelstad, Sun City West, AZ; Darryl & Carol Wangsness, Anoka, MN; Chuck & Lorrie Wangsness, Sun Lakes, AZ; Glenn & Arnhild Hillesland, Ames, IA; Alton & Harriet Hillesland, Sydney, MT and Dorothy Sanders, Decorah, IA. Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents: Ted & Lottie Hillesland and Clifford & Mabel Wangsness. Uncle: Dalos Hillesland and one brother-in-law: Kenny Humpal in 1992.