Hilaria Dvorachek

Dvorachek, Hilaria Ida Cecelia Geiger

Hilaria Ida Geiger Dvorachek, age 93, of Reedsville, Golden Venture Apartments, Kaukauna and Peabody Manor, Appleton, danced her way into heaven on Sunday, July 17, 2011. She was born on June 17, 1918, in the Town of Brillion, daughter of the late Daniel and Ida (Vogel) Geiger. She married Edward J. Dvorachek on her 25th birthday, June 17, 1943, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Brillion.

Survivors include her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Dolores (Cyril, "Bud"), Klister, Appleton and sons: Andrew (Caitlin Feiereisen) and their daughter, Natalie Grace of Fox Point; and Edward, Casper, WY; Dennis (Lynda Cyr) of Brillion and children: Amy (Neal) Monigal and son, Christian of Menasha, Matthew (Andrea Vechart) and children, Jonathan, Levi, Grace, Stephen and Sara of LaGrange, IN, Nathan (Jessica Schindler) of Butler, WI; Deanna (Mitch) Disch of Beaver Dam and children, Hilary of Madison and Jacob of Daejeon, South Kora; Darlene Zirngibl of Kalamazoo, MI; Elmer (Victoria Weber) of Reedsville and children, Beau (Melissa Schultz) and sons, Braiden, Brennen and Camden of Reedsville; Jill of Brillion, Jesse (Heather Nies) of Brillion and Sara of Pewaukee; Connie (David) Gott and children, Emily, Stephen and Simon of Halifax, England.

Surviving also are sisters and brothers and in-laws: Kathryn (Preston) Geiger, Brillion; Daniel (Beverly Suchan) Geiger, Brillion; Joseph H. Juckem, Chilton; Delores Diny, DePere; Rita (Allen) Wittmann, Brillion; Albert Brick, DePere; Dorothy (Roberts) Dvorachek; and Dolores (Heinzen) Dvorachek.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Ida Geiger; her husband, Edward; a grandson, Jason Dvorachek; mother and father-in-law, Anton and Anna (Kocourek) Dvorachek; sisters and brothers and -in-laws: Norbert and Monica (Kopidlansky) Geiger; Bernard Geiger; Ida Juckem; Elmer (Bernice Wessel) Geiger; Michael Diny; Germaine Brick; Joseph (Mary Berger) Dvorachek; Wencel (Agnes) Svatek; John (Christine Kimmel; Steven (Florence Seidl) Dvorachek; Leonard (Mary) Braun; Charles (Pearl Fiedler) Dvorachek; Anthony Dvorachek; Emily Dvorachek; and a special God-child, David Wittmann.

Hilaria is also survived by her special niece and nephew God-children: Donald Dvorachek, James Dvorachek, Dean Geiger, Norbert Geiger, Jr., Jeanne Geiser, Jean Koehler, Bernice Pollen and Mary Beth Postolowski. She is further survived by many other nieces and nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Before her marriage, during WWII, Hilaria helped her parents with the family dairy farm and tend to her eight siblings. It was during these years that she taught herself how to play to piano, organ and accordion after only a few lessons and encouragement from her aunts, Sister Cecelia and Sister Robert and Lawrence Duchow. She was the organist and choir director at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Kasson, for nine years before her marriage. During this same time Hilaria entertained Manitowoc County with her accordion on WOMT radio every Saturday morning. After marriage while living on the Dvorachek family dairy farm, Hilaria continued to play the organ for weddings, funerals, Sunday Mass and other services at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Reedsville. She was proud to have donated this service to her church for 50 years.

Hilaria provided the entertainment for conventions at various Door County Resorts, a Lions International Convention, many picnics in the park and numerous family gatherings. She was honored to play her accordion on stage in Munich, Germany, on a float for the Centennial of Reedsville in 1992 and for the Jump N' Jive Extravaganza in Kimberly in 2007. Hilaria loved to dance, especially the polka and waltz, the music of her German heritage. She was a fan of the Jerry Schneider Band. Dancing with Edward made her smile.

Telling stories of her trips delighted Hilaria. Some of her destinations were England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Holland, Germany, The Holy Land, Hawaii and many other places throughout the United States.

Hilaria was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Brillion and a gold member of the St. Ann's/Christian Mothers Society of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Reedsville, and Holy Family Parish, Brillion. She was an active member and officer of the Reedsville Lioness Club and the Maple Rock Homemakers.

The funeral liturgy for Hilaria will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2011, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1100 W Ryan Street in Brillion. Friends may call at the church Friday after 4 p.m. and again on Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the liturgy. Visitation hours Friday evening will be concluded with a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. The Boettcher Family Funeral Home, Kaukauna is assisting the family, 920-766-2099.

In lieu of flowers, memorial funds are being established in Hilaria's memory. Donations can be made to The Hilaria Dvorachek Music Scholarship Fund at Silver Lake College, St. Mary's Historical Society of Holy Family Parish.

The family wishes to thank Dr. James Haine and the compassionate staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital and the Peabody Manor, and visitors from Holy Family Parish for Mom's spiritual strength. Mom has been blessed many times with their exceptional care and concern.