Lucille Hilger

Lucille Roberta (Harling) Hilger passed away Thursday, May 28, 2009 at Wissota Health and Regional Vent Center in Chippewa Falls WI. She previously resided at Home Suite Home Assisted Living and for 53 years on the family farm in Bloomer.

She was born December 4, 1922 in Chippewa Falls to Everett and Anna (Dachel) Harling. She graduated from Chippewa Falls High School in 1940. In her early adult life she worked as a waitress at the Hotel Northern and a stitcher at Chippewa Shoe. She was a beautiful seamstress and sewed wedding dresses for many of her friends. She married Walter Hilger and together they farmed in Bloomer until Walter’s death in 1983. Lucille then farmed with her sons until her retirement in the early 1990s. She raised baby calves for 35 years. Lucille loved stitching and created many beautiful Hardanger embroidery pieces. She also loved quilting, knitting, crocheting and collecting various antique memorabilia. She was a wonderful and loyal wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Chetek WI. As a lifelong advocate of people with disabilities, she established ARC of Chippewa County in the 1970s. Lucille was a founding member and past president (1986-2000) of Special Friends, Inc. She was a member of Women of the Woods and the Chippewa Valley YMCA Morning Swimmers.

Lucille is survived by her children: Steve (Carol) Hilger, Jeanne (Mike) Fox, Joe (Kathy) Hilger, Fred (Donna) Hilger and her special daughter, Jennifer Hilger; one brother: Elmer Harling of Silver Bay MN; nine grandchildren: Jeffrey (Debbie) Hilger, Amanda (Chad) Kostner, Sheila (Chad) Mroczenski, Eric, Mitchell and Lucas Hilger, Jerrod (Amy) Hilger, Jessica and Brett Hilger; six great-grandchildren: Christopher, Caitlin and Kyle Hilger, Ella Jean Kostner, Morgan and Hunter Hilger.

She was preceded by her husband: Walter, two brothers: Ray Harling in 2004 and Ed Harling on May 25, 2009; one sister: Viola Davis on April 22, 2009; grandson: Jeremy Arendt on August 12, 2008; one daughter in infancy: Laurie Ann.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Christ Lutheran Church, located at1080 Meilahn St. in Chetek, with Rev John Erickson officiating. Interment of cremains will be in the Bloomer Cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from 4:00 �" 8:00 on Wednesday at the Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.