LaValice M. Hilbert
LaValice Margaret “Mike” Hilbert, age 91, of Chilton was called to her heavenly home on September 27, 2017. She passed peacefully at her home in Chilton among her family members after a brief illness.
LaValice was born December 23, 1925 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Edwin and Ruth (Murray) Michels. She met her husband, Clarence “CJ” Hilbert when he returned from serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II and began working for LaValice’s father as a cheesemaker. They raised their six children beginning their life together in DePere and later in Chilton. Clarence preceded LaValice in death on March 10, 1994.
LaValice had a strong passion for helping others and giving back to her community all her life. After graduating high school at the age of 16, she worked as a secretary until she was old enough to enroll in nursing school. She attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Marshfield, Wisconsin and trained to serve in World War II with the Cadet Nurse Corps. When the family moved to Chilton in 1959, the brand new Calumet Memorial Hospital in Chilton needed Registered Nurses so LaValice continued her life of service at the hospital in Chilton where she worked until retiring in 1985. LaValice was proud to be part of the nursing profession as an RN, a surgical supervisor, and in retirement volunteering with the Calumet Medical Center Auxiliary.
LaValice’s 30-year volunteer commitment to the Salvatorian Mission Warehouse in New Holstein continued until her death. She loved every minute of it. She also volunteered at Ledgeview Nature Center in Chilton where she helped out with various activities and events going on throughout the year. LaValice traveled extensively throughout the world and made meaningful friendships everywhere she went. She was grateful every day for her wonderful friendships old and new.
LaValice’s life was grounded by her faith. She was an active member at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (previously Saint Mary’s) and her faith provided her strength of body and mind to remain active until the end of her life – beginning and ending her days with prayer. Her prayers (and word puzzles in the daily newspaper) kept her mind sharp and her family and friends who traveled with her (including trips to the casino every once in a while) kept her physically active and enjoying their company. LaValice was also a devoted Brewer, Packer, and Badger fan. If there was a game on, she enjoyed cheering her team to victory. She had a competitive streak – especially when it came to games of Scrabble, Cribbage, or card games. After they both retired, Clarence and LaValice would play one game of cribbage before dinner every night and they kept a running score sheet by the phone. They played for a nickle a game and she let folks know that Clarence still owed her a quarter after their last game before he passed. She may collect that quarter now that they are together in heaven and, with their many family and friends who have gone before, join a game of Scrabble, cribbage, bridge, or Sheepshead.
LaValice often noted how she was blessed to be able to share the joy of her wonderful friendships over the years and she will be dearly missed.
She will also be greatly missed by her family: Tom (Cindy) Hilbert and son, Josh Howard; Midge (Dale Ross) Pfeffer and children Ben Pfeffer (Amy Arnold), Ronan, Devin and Jon (Tami) Pfeffer, Mason, Madelyne; Kris (Maynard) Johnson and children Aaron (Valerie) Epstein-Johnson, Lyra, Iris and Alec (Elma) Johnson, Lana, Nina; Clare (Tom) Larkin and son Chad (Alaina) Larkin; Bill (Julie) Hilbert and children Gina (David) Ziegelbauer, Audrey, and Maria (Art) Janowiak, Vivian, Julia, and Damian Hilbert, and Natalie Hilbert; and Mark Hilbert along with many neices and nephews. She is further survived by a brother-in-law Bob Speich and brothers-in-law Edwin Hilbert and Ken Hilbert and sister-in-law Margaret Hilbert.
LaValice was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law, Jim Pfeffer, and sister, Audrey Speich, many members of Clarence’s family, and many dear friends.
Funeral services will be at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Chilton with the Rev. Ryan Krueger officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at Wieting Family Funeral Home in Chilton from 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM on Monday, October 2, 2017 and on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at Wieting Family Funeral home from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
A memorial fund has been establish in the name of LaValice Hilbert.