Urban Mathias Hilke

Urban M. Hilke passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Urban was born on June 27, 1937, on the family farm in Argyle, Missouri, to Joseph and Martha (Eichholz) Hilke. He was preceded in death by his parents and eleven siblings—six brothers and five sisters.

On July 6, 1963, Urban married Wanda Fitzpatrick in Argyle, Missouri.

Urban was employed by the Rock Island Railroad for 42 years. He began his career as a laborer and retired as a Union Pacific Maintenance of Way/Track Supervisor.

He was a veteran of the United States Army and a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus, receiving his Fourth Degree in February 1973.

Urban is survived by his wife, Wanda; his two sons, Pat (Jill) of Liberty, Missouri, and Mark (Lea) of Shorewood, Illinois; four grandchildren — Ryan, Sam (Sara), Tom, and Abigail; and four great-grandchildren — Blake, Zoey, Jessie, and Nathan (children of Sam and Sara); his sister, Jane Meldrem, her husband Jack; his sisters-in-law, Sharon Lehmen (preceded in death by her husband, Ferdy), and Judie Crede her husband Bill Crede; and many nieces and nephews who will miss him greatly.

Services for Urban will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Independence, Missouri. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday, February 1st from 2-4 pm, Funeral Mass will be held Monday, February 2nd at 10am. Burial will take place at the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri on Tuesday February 3rd at 11am.

In lieu of flowers a donation could be made to St. Mark (to be directed towards the renovations) or to the American Cancer Society.