Joseph Carl (J.C,) Hilbig

Joseph Carl (J. C.) Hilbig J.C. Hilbig, father, grandfather, brother and uncle was born February 10, 1935 in Rockne, Texas, and died November 25, 2017.  J. C. loved life, and loved his family.  He is survived by his son and best friend Larry Hilbig, grandsons, Travis Hilbig and Jacob Hilbig, his sisters Marian Nelson, Laurell Skaggs and Clara Klinkovsky, his brothers Stanley Hilbig, Robert Hilbig, Terry Patrick Hilbig and Glenn Hilbig and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his wife, Ann Hilbig, daughter Sherry Hilbig, son Terry Hilbig, and sisters Leatrice Jakubowsky and Eileen Whitten. J.C. often talked about his young life in Rockne and growing up on Thornton Road with his siblings and friends.  His love of cars began at an early age when, although he won many races, he was always tinkering with his cars to make them go a little faster – he was destined to become a master mechanic.  In between his mechanical gigs, he owned and operated service stations, worked on the Alaskan pipeline, and became a big rig truck driver at the tender age of 70.  After J. C. tired of driving an eighteen-wheeler across the country, he again returned to his love of mechanics.  He opened Hilbig Automotives in Lockhart, and continued to be a part of the shop until shortly before his death. J.C.'s life will be celebrated on Saturday, December 2, 2017 with Mass at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockne.  Internment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery.