Mary Hilbelink

Mary Hilbelink, 89, of 407 New York Ave., Oostburg, died Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at St. Nicholas Hospital. Mary was born in Milwaukee on February 9, 1918, the daughter of the late Blase and Mary (Vranek) Kutsho. Mary died on February 10, 1918. Later, her father, Blase, married Julia Vranek, sister of his first wife. When Mary was 10, her family moved to a farm near Waldo. She attended Welcome school. She graduated from Waldo High School in 1936. In 1938 she graduated from Sheboygan County Normal School and in 1939 she began a 35 year teaching career. At a later date, she graduated from UW-Oshkosh. She taught at McKinley School, Franklin State Graded School where she was principal and taught grades 5-8; Adell school, also principal and teacher; and for 24 years at Cedar Grove-Belgium school before retiring in 1983. Mary married Delmont Hilbelink in Cedar Grove at the parsonage of Calvary OPC, on July 29, 1939. He preceded her in death on April 16, 2001. She was a member of Calvary OPC until recently when she became a member of First Presbyterian Church in Oostburg. She was a member of the Sheboygan County Quilt guild where she only missed one meeting.; she helped organize Pine Tree Quilt Club and missed only one meeting in 21 years. She was invited two years in a row to the National Quilt Show in Paducah, Kentucky. She volunteered at Good As New Thrift Shop in Cedar Grove. In retirement, Mary enjoyed reading, crocheting and quilting. She made full size to king size quilts for each of her children and grandchildren for a total of 21 quilts. Survivors include one daughter, Carol (Paul) Van Driest of Oostburg; four sons, Wayne (Beverly) of Delavan, Roger (Karen) of Oostburg, David (Eileen) of Appleton, Stuart (Wendy) Hilbelink of Plymouth, one daughter-in-law, Jane Hilbelink of Oostburg; 15 grandchildren, Hallie and Andy Van Driest, Brad (Betsy) Dan (Kim), Brian (Joan), Kirsten Hilbelink, Scott (Nicole), Kerri, Michael, Jerry Hilbelink, Laurie (Andy) Pilon, Peter, Jamie, David, and Kira Hilbelink; nine great grandchildren, Renee, Nicholas, Anna, Grace, Luke, Henry, Emma, Cameryn, Taylor; niece, Julie Perkovich of Cascade and her sons, Evan and Matthew;; two sisters-in-law, Lona Hilbelink and Lois Hilbelink, of Cedar Grove. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delmont, son, Jeffrey, a sister, Margaret, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Oostburg, with the Rev. Walter Hackney, officiating. A family service will precede at 1:45 p.m. Burial will take place at Oostburg Cemetery. Friends may call at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg on Friday, January 18, 2008 from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturday at church from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services. A memorial fund has been established in her name. Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com. The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home of Oostburg (920-564-2771) is serving the Hilbelink family.