Joan McCullough Hilzer

Beatrice Joan (Wilson) (McCullough) Hilzer was born April 21, 1931 in WaKeeney, KS to the late Howard and Alvina (Tegtmeyer) Wilson. She passed away Thursday, August 1st, 2024 at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley, KS at the age of 93.
Joan was raised in WaKeeney, KS with all her siblings and graduated from Trego Community High School. After graduating high school she worked at the Trego County Courthouse and the WaKeeney Bank.
On March 11, 1950 Joan married James (Jim) McCullough in WaKeeney, KS. The couple moved to Grinnell not too long after where they made their home and raised their children Da'Nella Jo, Mikel James, and Sheryl Kay. Joan continued her love for banking, working at Peoples State Bank in Grinnell for many years. She was a member and very active in the Grinnell United Methodist Church, the Wheatland VFW Post #2864 Auxiliary and in the early years served as the President. She enjoyed being in the same Bridge Club for many years and Snappy Dozen Card Club. She was a Cub Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and member of the Grinnell Pride Committee.
On September 1, 1984, Joan married Art Hilzer and she moved to Park, KS, where she and Art made their home and raised and trained greyhounds for the track. She was not a big dog lover, but she enjoyed the business side of things by doing all the bookkeeping and keeping track of all the paperwork for the greyhounds. The two enjoyed watching the races through the years. All the grandkids have special memories of Grandma Jo at the dog farm in Park. She was not one to knit, sew or crochet, but she was always first in line to give the grandkids a ride on the 4 wheeler or mule and let them drive the van back and forth to the kennel.
Survivors include one son, Mikel McCullough, Oakley, KS, two daughters, Da'Nella Anderson (Jeff) Topeka, KS, Sheryl Johnson (Steve) Oakley, KS, four grandchildren, Erin Richardson (Jared), Kyle Anderson, Brett Suter (Regina), Brook Plummer (Ethan), four step-grandchildren, Chad Lucas (Mary), Diane Nolan, Brandy Wixom, Michael Wixom, five great grandchildren and six step-great grandchildren, one sister, Beverly "Bev" Wedermeyer (Melvin), and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim McCullough (1983), husband Art Hilzer (2010), brothers Howard Adair Wilson, Billy LaVon Wilson, Vernon "Dick" Wilson, one sister Vera Virginia Webb, and step-daughters Leda Hilzer and Charlotte Lucas.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, KS. Family will greet friends at 9:30 am until service time. A lunch will follow at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center in Oakley, KS. Everyone is invited to enjoy a meal together and visit with friends and family. Memorials are suggested to the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasia, Grinnell United Methodist Church, or Independent Living at Logan County Hospital and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748.