Pastor H.P. Hilgendorf

Pastor Hilbert Paul “Hilgie” Hilgendorf passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hilgie was born on April 22, 1931 to Rev. Theodore & Gertrude Hilgendorf in Dickinson, North Dakota. At age 13 he began preparation to become a Lutheran pastor by attending St. John’s High School and College in Winfield, Kansas, followed by Concordia Theological Seminary, graduating in 1956. He married Marian Mae Schedler on June 13, 1954 and they were blessed with 56 years together until her passing in 2010. Hilgie married Gert Huesmann on September 16, 2012.

His first congregation was Trinity/Grace Lutheran in Hill City/Remer, Minnesota, followed by Good Shepherd in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. From there he started a mission congregation, Good Shepherd-Appleton, serving from 1962 to 1979 when he took an administrative position with the South Wisconsin District office in Milwaukee in Stewardship and Evangelism. He returned to local church ministry at St. James-Shawano in 1984 and retired after ten years from Hope Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac in 1996 where he continued as Pastor of Senior Ministries. During his retirement, he served other congregations in Wisconsin, including Trinity-Menasha, St. Luke-Chilton and Trinity-Boulder Junction. He actively served in various roles in the District, including board of stewardship from 1964 to 1974, circuit counselor and first vice-president and chairman of the board of directors from 1988 to 1994.

Hilgie enjoyed the north woods of Wisconsin and spent many years with his family at Pelican Lake and Boulder Junction enjoying fishing, watching deer and other wildlife. He also enjoyed the Packers, Brewers, Badgers, an occasional NASCAR race and played golf in his younger years. But mostly he enjoyed teaching God's Word and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. He was known for his preaching and beautiful singing voice.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Gert; his children Lynne (Chema) Paba and daughter Rachel (Ephraim) Jacobson and their son Micah, Neenah; Terri (Dr. Gaylund) Stone and children Laura, David and Matthew, Fredonia; Lori (Chris) Reid and daughter Colleen (Aaron) Early and their children Hayli, Dillan and Ava; son Caleb, all of Austin, TX; and Mark (Lisa) Hilgendorf and daughters Greta and Emma, Green Bay; Gert’s son Rev. Bernie (Gretchen) Huesmann and children Tim, Amanda, Aaron and Grace, Jackson; daughter Diane (John) Wilcox and children Nick and Hannah, Boston, MA; his brothers Gene (Mary), Warrenton, MO and Ed (Clare) Hilgendorf, Appleton; sisters Rosalind (Ken) Westphal, Shawano and Eunice (Ken) Sands, Beloit, and brother-in-law Bill Bessert, Milwaukee. Hilgie is also survived by many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marian, brother Victor Hilgendorf, sister Gertie Bessert, granddaughter Emily Stone, grandson Garrett Reid and niece Pamela Bessert.

Visitation for Pastor Hilgendorf will be held Saturday, March 25, 2017 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 N. Park Ave. in Fond du Lac. Funeral service will be held Sunday, March 26, 2017 beginning at 3:30 PM at Hope Lutheran Church, 260 Vincent St. in Fond du Lac. Visitation will begin at 1:30 PM and continue until the time of services. Private family entombment in Rienzi Cemetery will take place Monday, March 27, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are being established for Hope Lutheran Church, Hospice Home of Hope-Fond du Lac and the American Bible Society.

The family gives a special thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Lutheran Home and Hospice Home of Hope for the loving, personal care and support given to Hilgie and his family.