Holton- Cleo A. Hill, 86, of Holton died on Tuesday, October 02, 2007 at Medicalodges of Jackson County after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's. She was born Jan. 25, 1921 outside of Soldier, KS to Fred James and Emma Freel Staehli.
She was a lifetime resident of the community and graduated from Corning High in 1939. In 1940, she married Arthur Irl Hill and they moved to Soldier where they farmed and raised a family. A longtime member of the Soldier Christian Church, she is remembered for her years of service with their Vacation Bible School. Until her eyesight began to fail her, Cleo enjoyed quilting, jigsaw puzzles and reading western novels.
From 1986–1997, she resided in Marceline, MO before moving to Holton where her healthcare was overseen by her beloved nieces Vivian Cormier and Roxanne Hayes.
Hill is preceded in death by her husband; her son, Earl Hill, a volunteer Soldier firefighter who died in the line of duty in 1967; her daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and David Ramberg, who died in an accident in Marceline, MO in 1997; step-grandson and longtime Topeka Capital-Journal sports columnist Jim Ramberg; and brothers Arnold Staehli and Carl Staehli.
She is survived by her sister Catherine Cormier of Holton; grandsons Damon Romine of Los Angeles and Jason Romine of Topeka; five step-grandchildren; 3 nieces Rebecca Hayes of Hoyt, Roxanne Hayes, Vivian Cormier both of Holton; and 6 nephews Bruce Cormier, Rodney Cormier both of Soldier, Wade Cormier of Hoyt, James Staehli, Gary Staehli and Phil Staehli all of Topeka.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 5, 2007 at the Soldier Christian Church. Burial will be in the Soldier Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials may be given to the Soldier Christian Church or Parkinson's Disease Foundation sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.