Hildegard Watson Obituary (1941

Hildegard Anna Watson, 85, of Normal, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing in Normal, Illinois. She was born on January 16, 1941, in Gerolzhofen, Germany to Gustav and Frieda (Och) Schwesinger. Hildegard grew up in Gerolzhofen with her parents and 6 siblings. On December 12, 1957, she married Private First Class John L. Watson in Bamberg, Germany. They had three sons; Glenn Lee Watson who was born in Germany before they came to the United States in 1958, Stuart James Watson, and David John Watson. They built their home in Normal, Illinois and later divorced in 1979. Hildegard was extremely proud of becoming a Citizen of the United States of America on May 1, 1964. She raised her sons in Normal, Illinois and had a deep love for gardening, flowers, collectables, and fine china. She would answer any question anyone had about plants, even how to nurse them back to health. She loved to cook and bake meals for her family and friends, always having many dessert options available. She worked for over 20 years for Country Companies and made many wonderful friends during her years there. She loved to visit antique stores and take day trips to have lunch at any local tea room. She enjoyed her yard and sitting on her patio and front porch on nice days. Hildegard is survived by her sons, Stuart Watson of Bloomington, Illinois, David (Kia) Watson of Troy, Missouri, daughter in law, Brenda Watson of Bloomington, Illinois, and grandchildren, Thomas Watson, Rececca Watson, and Kayla Watson, all of Bloomington, Illinois and Lewis Watson of Troy, Missouri, and dear friends, Grant, Jamie, Hudson, and Sylvia Rucker of Normal, Illinois. She is also survived by many other friends. Hildegard was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, Reinhold, Helmut, Maria, Herta, Betty, and Fried Hilde, her son, Glenn Watson, and Laura Burke (Stuart’s companion). Memorials can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-Gateway Chapter in honor of Hildegard’s grandson, Lewis Watson. Visitation will be held from 10am-11am on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with a Memorial Service at 11am at Carmody-Flynn in Bloomington, Illinois. Followed by a procession to Park Hill Cemetery for the burial.