A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 12, at The Club Valdez in Valdez.
Hillar was born Dec. 24, 1953, in Valdez. He graduated from Valdez High School. He had been a crane operator for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 from 1974 to 2008, and was a member of Alaska Hotel Restaurant Employees Association Local 878.
His family wrote: “Lifelong Alaskan, lifelong Valdezian, and loving, devoted father, died peacefully in his sleep at his son’s home in Wasilla, surrounded by his family and friends.
“He was the owner/operator of The Club Valdez, one of the oldest establishments still open in Valdez. He was also a commercial fisherman. ‘Farewell my friend.’”
Surviving are his daughter, Cori Jean Hillar of Valdez; son, John Robert Hillar of Wasilla; brother, Gige Hillar of Valdez; sister-in-law, Jennie Needles of Valdez; first cousin, Charles Parker of Valdez; second cousin, Jason Parker of California; mother of his son, Roberta Swenson Steele of Wasilla; Rick Steele of Wasilla; and Cori’s mom, Vicki Kellar of Valdez.
Hillar was preceded in death by his father, George Watson Hillar, and mother, Shirley Mae Parker Hillar.
Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Wasilla.
Source: Frontiersman, 6 January 2008
