Willard Hilsabeck, 82, went to be with his wife Sarah, on April 28, 2016. Willard was born in Amberg, Wisconsin to Floyd & Jessie (Smiley) Hilsabeck on August 15, 1933. He and his family moved to Sturgeon Bay when he was 9 years old.

He graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1952, that same year he married Sarah Fifield, and started his heating career at Fidler Skilling Coal Yard, continuing to work there until 1965, when he bought the company and renamed it Hilsabeck Heating and Oil. He continued to serve the community until the energy crisis of the 1970’s put him out of business.

Willard was remembered fondly by the community he served for his kind, generous heart & talkative spirit. Afterwards he went to work for JJ Security at PBI, Bay Shipbuilding as a machinist, and finally DeBoer Transportation as an over the road truck driver until his retirement in the late 90’s. Willard loved to tease people and was always willing to share his many stories & experiences to anyone who would listen.  As a member of the First Baptist Church in Sturgeon Bay, he and his father helped to build the original church on 5th and Georgia and was a Deacon there for several years.

Survivors include five children, Ron (Susan)Hilsabeck, Tucson AZ, Jim Hilsabeck (special friend Jan), Republic MI, Floyd (Connie)Hilsabeck, Morgan, WI, Carla (Phil) Maccoux, Sturgeon Bay, WI, and Mark (Cyndi) Hilsabeck, Nasawaupee, WI; ten grandchildren: Mariah Sixel, Amanda Hilsabeck, Jedediah Hilsabeck, Jessie Hilsabeck, Renee Gummere, Seth Hilsabeck, Joshua Maccoux, Brittany Maccoux, Cera Hilsabeck and Jacob Hilsabeck; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Delbert Hilsabeck; and two sisters, Sally Huff and Louise Fifield.

Willard is preceded in death by his wife, Sarah in 2006; two brothers, Calvin & David; and a sister, Lillian Anderson.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at the Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with Tim Fifield officiating.  Burial will be in Bayside Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home and at 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home on Wednesday.  On-line condolences may be offered at forbesfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank the staff at the Dorchester & Unity Hospice for their patience and loving care over the past year.

 Service Information