Donald Robert Arthur Hiller

Donald Robert Arthur Hiller, 91 years, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loving family. He went to his eternal home with the Lord on February 29, 2024.

Born in Plymouth, October 28, 1932 to Lester and Malinda Hiller. At age 20, Don and his parents moved north to St. Germain to operate Hiller’s Pine Haven Resort. Together with his parents and then his wife, he ran the resort for 52 years. 

He met his wife Carol Ann Wolter in church choir. If you have ever heard him sing you know that it was true love that kept them together for 66 years. Don and Carol married on September 7, 1957 and raised three children, Donna, Mark, and Kristine. Theirs was a life of hard work and good times. 

Don was a lifelong Lutheran, baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Plymouth. He and his wife were married at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church where they have been members for more than 70 years. He served on the church council and various committees. 

Born during the depression and living through World War II, he knew how to make do and always save that little scrap for “just in case.” His family expects to find numerous stashes of random items that may someday prove useful. 

He started his work life early, delivering newspapers at age eight. Inherently honest, he always let his customers know when they accidently left a silver dime instead of the silver pennies used during World War II. Don found many ways to provide for his family besides running the resort. He sold advertisement for the News Review, was a free-lance news photographer, worked as a cook at the Eagle River Cranberry Factory, and bartended at Thunderbird Pass to name a few. 

Don loved spending time in the outdoors and shared this love in many ways. He worked as a special LTE Game Warden with the Wisconsin DNR for 24 years. A true “old-time” warden, he left for work with his partner Chuck Wranosky in his flannel shirt, a Stormy Kromer hat, a badge, his smoking pipe, and a thermos of coffee. He only carried a gun at nighttime. After retirement he continued his work in the outdoors volunteering for numerous water quality and animal surveys and taught boater safety certification for 30 years. 

Don was a man of many words and many stories, some factual and others not so much. There was nothing he liked better than an interesting conversation, often finding common life history with strangers. He only sent one email in his life, to his daughter Kris, who now wishes she had saved it. Instead, he often sent handwritten letters and interesting news tidbits to his friends and family. 

Some of Don’s favorite things: hunting, fishing, blueberry pancakes, the Military Channel, old westerns, a Korbel whiskey Manhattan, feeding his birds, a quiet morning in the canoe with his son and favorite hunting dog, Saturday evenings with Lawrence Welk, talking with resort guests at the beach, Christmas, and above all else his family. 

Don was preceded in death by his son Mark in 2019. He is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Donna and Kristine, his daughter-in-law Leslie Hiller, two grandchildren, Nicholas Hiller and Katrina (Eric) Rohe, his brother-in-law Chuck Wolter and his faithful dog Charlie. He leaves a legacy of many friendships made over a long lifetime. 

The family thanks the expert and loving care of Compassus hospice. In lieu of flowers please consider memorials to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Germain Fire Department, or the Northwoods Wildlife Center. 

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday March 12, 2024 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eagle River. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Light refreshments after.

Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com.