Matthew A. "Matt" Hilmes, 39, of Breese, Ill. died on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He was born on September 27, 1966, in Breese, son of Sylvester & Juliana (Usselmann) Hilmes. He married Pam McGuire on July 17, 1993 in St. Louis and she survives in Breese.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hilmes is survived by his parents, Sylvester & Juliana Hilmes of Breese; five sons, Brandon Hilmes, Tyler Hilmes, Chase Hilmes, Cole Hilmes and Lance Hilmes, all of Breese; two brothers, Kenneth Hilmes and wife Sandy of Carlyle, & Alan Hilmes and wife Jackie of Breese; five sisters, Trisha Kohrman and husband Jim of Okawville, Sharon Fullerton and husband Morris of Walnut Hill, Rita Fuhler and husband Jim of St. Rose, Donna Beckmann and husband Ralph of Carlyle, and Sandy Jansen and husband Joe of Bartelso; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Larry & Irene McNeill of St. Louis, MO; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Jeanie Tounsand of Imperial, MO, Chris & Al Dreste of Oakville, MO, Shelly & Otto Douglas of Festus, MO, and Jack & Maria McGuire of St. Louis, MO.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ferd & Dolores Hilmes and William & Wilhilmina Usselmann.

Mr. Hilmes was a dairy farmer. He was a graduate of Central High School, class of 1984. He enjoyed playing football with his sons and he loved tractors. He was a member of St. Anthony Parish in Beckemeyer, the Clinton County Farm Bureau and Dairy Farmers of America.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, January 23, 2006 at St. Anthony Church in Beckemeyer with Rev. Chuck Tuttle officiating. Interment will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery in Beckemeyer.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2006 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Monday, January 23, 2006 at Hempen Funeral Home in Breese. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the children of Matt Hilmes and will be received at the funeral home.