Ernst Hildebrandt

Ernst (Ernie) Hildebrandt of rural DeGraff passed away February 22, 2024, after a few months valiant battle with Glioblastoma Cancer. He died at the VA Hospice in Dayton with his wife Charlotte by his side.

 Ernie was born in Schloss Rogenhausen, Germany on December 5, 1942, to Emanuel and Eva (Fiedler) Hildebrandt. He was also preceded in death by his brothers Alfred, Helmut, and Arthur and his sisters Else (Hildebrandt) Dappert and Emma (Hildebrandt) Dappert. He has one surviving sister Ottilie (Hildebrandt) Finkes of Xenia, Ohio.

 He is also survived by his wife of many years Charlotte (Stryker) Hildebrandt and his son Shane M. Hildebrandt of Franklin, Ohio.

 In addition, also surviving are his granddaughter Brittnee Fundel Hynek and her four children Ryder, Hayden, Temperance, and Tennlee, of Illinois and his grandsons Benjamin Shepherd of Dunkirk, Ohio, and Dylan (Emily) Hildebrandt and great grandson Ryan M. Hildebrandt of DeGraff.

 He worked in construction all his life. He served his apprenticeship in Germany as a mason and continued in that trade after he legally migrated to the US in 1960. He eventually got into remodeling homes and building homes. He also enjoyed woodworking as a hobby and honed his craftsmanship. He liked to go to auctions in hopes of finding antique wooden furniture to restore.

 Ernie was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish. One of his favorite spots to fish was Lake Erie and he kept a boat up there just for that purpose. In earlier years he had gone fly-in fishing in Canada, bass fishing in Florida, and in the past few years crappie fishing in Tennessee.

 He was also passionate about hunting. He was mainly a bow hunter and spent many hours in the woods hunting deer. One of the great pleasures of his life was to go to the mountains of New Mexico to hunt elk. He loved hiking in the mountains to find the perfect spot to get that big buck.

 A ‘Celebration of Life’ for Ernie will be held on Saturday, March 2^nd, from 2-4 p.m. in Maplewood at the Community Building (across from the Methodist Church). Casual attire is welcome.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the VA Fisher House, 4100 W. Third Street, BLDG 425, Dayton, Ohio 45428 or online at fisherhouse.org, or the Logan County Cancer Society, c/o Mary Rutan Foundations, 205 Palmer Avenue, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311.

 DARING & SANFORD FUNERAL HOME, DEGRAFF is honored to serve the Hildebrandt family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.