Cyril John Hill

CYRIL JOHN HILL...

was given life by his Creator and was born on October 6, 1961, at Tuxedo, New York, the son of Thomas, Sr. and Lorna (Reyelts) Hill. On October 15, 1961, Cyril received the gift of Holy Baptism at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Mahwah, New Jersey, and became a child of God.Cyril publicly confessed his faith and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake, Minnesota where he received the precious gift of the Lord’s life-giving body and blood. Cyril’s Confirmation verse was Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Cyril attended 12 years at Mt. Lake Public School and graduated in May of 1980. In 8th grade until graduation he had three paper routes: The Minneapolis Star Daily, The Minneapolis Tribune Sunday, and the Windom, Minnesota weekly Peach publication. He was active in the Church youth groups and especially enjoyed serving as acolyte at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake.

Cyril enlisted in the United States Navy on June 4, 1980, and received basic training at Great Lakes Naval Base near Chicago, Illinois.Throughout his Navy career, Cyril served on the USS Piedmont AD17, in Norfolk, Virginia. It was decommissioned while serving on board. He was then transferred to the USS Coronado AGF11. It was deployed to the Persion Gulf, Bahrain, during the Iraq/Iran war as one of the two American ships in the area, known as the “White Beast of the Middle East” and “Gray Ghost of the Ivory Coast” as both ships were painted white. Cyril’s next transfer was to the USS Carl Vinson CVN-7, Brenerton, Washington. His next command was at SIMA, Mayport, Florida, followed by the Navy School of Photography in Pensacola, Florida. Cyril was then sent to the USS Blue Ridge LCC19 in San Francisco, California which was deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. The ships then returned to Miromar Naval Station in San Diego, California. He was discharged honorably from the Navy from the San Diego Naval Station in October of 1995, with full military honors.

During his Navy career, Cyril sailed the seven seas, three oceans, North of Alaska and south of Tasmania (which is south of Australia).

In 1996, Cyril started driving semis until January 2, 2014, when he had his first surgery for Glioblastoma (GBM), a brain tumor with an automatic death sentence.

Cyril’s hobbies included wood working, making pens and building computers. Following surgery, he learned crocheting as therapy, for his hands, before paralysis of his left side set in. He was involved with many charities with Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk, Nebraska at the top of the list.

On Tuesday, September 29, 2015, God blessed Cyril with a holy death and took him home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead.

Cyril is survived by his mother, Lorna, of Jasper, Minnesota; two sisters, Laurita (David) Shelstad of Fairmont, Minnesota, and Connie (Charles) Schuster, of Decatur, Texas; and one brother, Thomas, Jr. (Eldora) of Marana, Arizona; one aunt, Florence Fick, of Beaver Creek, Minnesota; one uncle, Elden Reyelts of Beaver Creek; special friends Grant and Sheila Hawkins of Slater, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

As a quiet, caring individual, Cyril will be missed by many family, relatives and friends alike. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, for our brother, Cyril.

Following Cyril’s wishes, his body has been donated to science at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.