Patricia Clare Hilpert

Patricia "Pat" C. Hilpert, of Stevens Point, entered into eternal rest on March 22, 2025, at the age of 91.
Pat was born July 30, 1933; daughter of the late Albert and Bertha (Thompson) Streb from Missoula, Montana. She was married to the love of her life, Frederick "Fred" M. Hilpert, who preceded her death. Together they had two sons, Mark B. Hilpert and Gene (Jo) M. Hilpert. Her family grew to include six grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her three older sisters and their spouses.
Pat was a registered nurse for over 50 years. Thirty of those years were at St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point. She made lasting friendships with many of her coworkers, neighbors, and classmates throughout her life. She created the CHEERS group; Cheerful Hospital Employees Enjoying Retirement Socials, which would meet for lunch on the third Wednesday of the month and an annual picnic at her house, which was followed by a neighborhood picnic the next day. Even though it started as retired coworkers, it grew to include and welcome any friends, new or old. In fact, anyone she met became her friend. Pat was the most positive, happy person on the planet.
In 1982, Pat saw a notice for a clown school, signed up, and became a registered clown. She saw it as an opportunity to bring cheer to children in the hospital, community parades, and residents of rest homes. Pat felt that "clowns are the walking catalog of human imperfection and comedy is their struggle to survive." When asked by a young audience member how she could just be a person and then change into a clown, she replied, "the nose on my face is magical. As soon as I put it on the clown comes out and I am different. I see only blue skies, red roses, people laughing and having fun; happiness all around."
Pat lived to serve and help others. In February of 1987, she spent a month on the island of St. Lucia, bringing aid, comfort, and medical supplies to St. Jude Hospital. She found it to be a life-altering experience.
Throughout her life, besides working and raising two boys, she found small ways to lift other people up. At the hospital, she would often bring in a cake for each floor to help the staff through one more patient. She would offer a helping hand to a struggling student, a down-on-their-luck friend, or a stranger who needed a lift; whatever form the help was needed, Pat answered. She became a clearing house of sorts for excess food, clothing, household goods, etc. She was always able to find a new home for any 'donation' she was given.
She brought a monthly meal to the residents of the Turn of The Century Hotel for many years and found it important to eat it with them. She made up food boxes at Easter and Christmas for those in need. She delivered meals on holidays to those who were unable to go out. She worked for many years stocking shelves and making up orders for those in need at Bootstrap, an organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of those in the community who experience times of food insecurity. At holidays, when Bootstrap gears up to make baskets for those in need, Pat would be one of the folks who fed the volunteers.
Once Pat retired, she had to find a way to use her abundant energy. One of the donations she received was an overflowing amount of stuffed toys. There were nearly-new ones, well-loved ones, and damaged ones; all types and sizes. Pat would clean them, repair them as needed, and add whatever necessary to make them lovable again. Then she would bag them and offer them to schools, church picnics, or Bootstrap. In her 20 years of rehabilitating stuffed toys, she prepared 36,000 of them, and over half were paired with an appropriate book so the recipient could cuddle with their new friend and listen to or read a story. Pat always credited the generosity of the community and many friends for her ability to have done this work.
For her dedication to helping others, Pat received several awards which included the Nay-oshing chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 2012, the Quality of Life Leadership Award from the St. Michael's Foundation in 2015, The local Jefferson Award, Theodora Youman's Citizenship award in 2021 from the GFWC Stevens Point Woman's Club, and the Daisy Award in 2022 from Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital.
It was Pat's wish that those who would like to express their sympathies, provide donations in lieu of flowers to Bootstrap at 5000 Heffron Street, Stevens Point WI 54481.
Pat's life will be celebrated at the 11:00 AM Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Stevens Point on April 4, 2025, with a Remembrance lunch to follow at the church. Pat and Fred will be laid to rest at the family grave sight in Dillon, Montana, in the summer of 2025. Cremation service was provided by Shuda Funeral Chapel.
"If everyone loved with their entire being like Pat did, we would have a perfect world," M. Gadtke