Douglas J. Hilby, age 96, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2026, in Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A wake service will be held at 3:45 p.m.

An additional visitation will be held from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Church of the Resurrection in Dubuque. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the church with Rev. Michael Schueller officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Iowa Army National Guard.

Doug was born May 13, 1930, to William and Vida (nee Most) Hilby in Dubuque, Iowa. He was raised on a farm in Menominee, Illinois. He attended grade school in Menominee and went on to graduate from Loras Academy in 1948. Doug met the love of his life Bernadette A. Berning and married on October 17, 1953, in Sinsinawa, WI. Together they raised nine children. They have also been blessed with 40 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. 

Because of his father’s illness, Doug began farming at the age of 18 until he was drafted into the Army, serving from 1955 to 1957. Doug served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey and Heidelberg, Germany. After the military, he opened Doug’s T.V., a T.V., Stereo, Antenna, Satellite sales and service business retiring in 2001. Doug enjoyed camping, genealogy, golfing, winemaking, woodworking, and playing euchre in card club with lifelong friends and the monthly games with the Bernings. Doug loved traveling with Bernadette and together they set foot in all 50 U.S. states and many European countries. He found great joy in gatherings when his family was all together.

Doug is survived by daughter-in-law, Cyndy Hilby and her children Matthew (Sarah), Kathleen (Neal Mulville), James Hilby and his son Jason (Elizabeth) and stepsons Derek (Jane) Kulikauskas, Neil (Emily) Kulikauskas. Michael (Janet) Hilby and their children Timothy (Danielle), Elizabeth (Bryan) Underwood, Laura (Benjamin) Currie, Ryan. Kevin (Diane) Hilby and their children Benjamin (Anne Elsener), Joseph (Mariah), Daniel (Jessica), Abigail (Nicholas) Thompson, Sarah, Nathan (Holly), Deborah (Joshua) Navarro, Rebekah (John) Herra, Elizabeth (Nate) Littlejohn, Isaac, Adam, Maria (Joseph) Krein, Rachel (Jackson) Vos. Cheryl (Kevin) Kuenster and their children Hannah (John) Fox, Andrea (fiancé Izel), MaryKae (fiancé Alex). Patrice (Patrick) Brimeyer and her sons Scott (Joanna) Johnson, Eric (Kelsey) Johnson and his sons Dakota, Nathaniel (fiancée Alex) Brimeyer. Lisa (Kurt) Urdahl and their children Sam (Dee Berhanu), Jack, Julia, Thomas. Brian (Bridget) Hilby and their children Madeline, Luke (fiancée Amanda), Olivia. Charles (Anne) Hilby and their children Patrick, Cecelia, Charlie, Jack. 

Doug is survived by his sister Jeanine Hilby, brothers and sisters-in-law Eugene Wessling, Mary Berning, Gerald Berning, Lloyd and Janet Berning, Joyce and Ron Lansing, John and Ellen Berning, Mark and Jane Berning, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Bernadette, his parents, father and mother-in-law Aloysius and Emma Berning, son Steven Hilby, daughter-in-law Clara Hilby, sisters and brothers-in-law MaryAnn Wessling, Richard Berning, Marilyn Berning, Clarence and Judy Berning, and Jenelle Berning.

Memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. 

Doug’s family would like to thank the staff at Stonehill Communities and Hospice of Dubuque for their exceptional care and support. And, to the staff at the Church of the Resurrection for their prayers and comforting visits.