Steven Hilgenberg

We are shattered to be saying goodbye to a beautiful soul, our son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, Steven Christopher Hilgenberg. Steven left this earth on December 4, 2025, far too soon for all of us. We wanted more time with him - he deserved more time.

Steven was the second child of Tami (LaFave) Hilgenberg and Steve Hilgenberg. When he joined the family on April 28, 1997, Steven made Charissa a big sister.

As a young child, Steven was all smiles, twinkling eyes and laughter. Young Steven also loved the water, exploring and food! These stayed with him as he grew into his teen years (when his love of food blossomed into a love of baking and cooking) and adulthood (when he was happy to hop in his car to explore new places). He appreciated the finest steak and appetizers at Chives and Barringers as well as his favorite offerings from Taco Bell...and all kinds of foods in between.

In 2006, Steven became a big brother when Drake joined the family. A year later, little sister Lela rounded out the Hilgenberg Four. And then in 2019, Steven became a big brother yet again, this time to Ellie. There's no denying the love Steven had for his siblings and the love they returned to him.

The day he turned 14, Steven applied for a job at Doxbee's. This was the beginning of his career in kitchens, taking him from Seymour to Door County to various places throughout the Valley. Steven's kitchen skills came natural, possibly inherited from his Grampa Brad. In recent years, the two of them had many opportunities to cook together, along with Steven's Gramma Patty as well.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention that Steven really found his place at Seymour High School in the music program. His connection with Amy Bucheger - Mrs. Boo - was special. She coaxed his best voice and best behavior out of him and while doing so allowed him to be just exactly who he was. This was such a gift and a big part of the reason Steven's confidence grew and, in fact, that he graduated with the Class of 2015.

Steven is survived by his parents, Tami Hilgenberg and Steve (Sara) Hilgenberg; his siblings, Charissa, Drake, Lela and Ellie Hilgenberg; his step-siblings, Calli and Logan Scheibe; his maternal grandparents, Brad & Patty LaFave; his paternal grandmother, Cindy Haak; his step-grandparents, Bob & Karen Schmidt; his aunts and uncles, Chris (godfather), Chasity (godmother), Teresa & Rookie, Amy & Jason, and Lori & Scott; his cousins, Lily, Louis, Trevor, Jamison, Jayce, Mya, Kali, Tessa and Scott Jr.; his godparents, Steve & Jessica Linsmeyer; so many others from the LaFave, McGavock, Spaude, Hilgenberg and Schultz families; and many friends. To say Steven was loved was an understatement.

Steven was preceded in death by his great-gramma, Geraldine (Earl) Spaude; his maternal great-grandparents, Louis & Marion LaFave and William & Anita McGavock; his paternal grandfathers, Harold Haak, Ernie Hilgenberg and Elly Schultz; and other extended family.

Visitation for Steven will take place on Friday, December 12, 2025 at Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home in Seymour from 3:00 pm until the funeral service at 7:00 pm with Pastor Ty Stoneburner officiating.

Please consider wearing blue clothing to the funeral - the brighter hue, the better! It was Steven's favorite color and he would want us to be comfortable and casual.