Fifth Generation

136. Leigh Vernon HILLIKER was born on 12 October 1911 in Tunnel City, Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.^22,69 He graduated in 1928 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁶ from Tomah High School. He died on 12 September 2008 at the age of 96 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁶

Obituary Notes: "Leigh V. Hilliker, age 96, of Tomah, WI, passed away on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at his home. He was born on Oct. 12, 1911, to Vernon G. and Celeste C. (Reich) Hilliker in the Town of Greenfield, Monroe County, WI.

Leigh spent his childhood on the family farm near Tunnel City and graduated from Tomah High School. He was united in marriage to Jane Louise Smith of Tomah on Nov. 17, 1934, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Tomah. This November would mark their 74th wedding anniversary.

One of Leigh’s early jobs was as foreman in Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps at Necedah and Hatfield. Following that experience, Leigh became a forest ranger with the Wisconsin Conservation Department (WCD), serving as fire protection supervisor at stations in Wisconsin Dells, Hayward, Black River Falls and Madison. He supervised the construction of the ranger station in Wisconsin Dells and implemented some of the early aerial patrols for detection of forest fires in Wisconsin. Leigh retired from state service in 1970 as Fire Protection Area Supervisor for the East Central and Southern areas of the state. He and Jane then moved back to Tomah to semi-retirement, and concentrated on raising Christmas trees on the Tunnel City farm once owned by his grandfather, Gilbert G. Hilliker.

Leigh was a charter member of the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers’ Association, and pioneered some of the early efforts to grow balsam fir in managed plantations in central Wisconsin, well south of balsam’s natural range. He took particular pride in the quality of the trees that he raised.

Leigh is survived by his wife, Jane; a brother, Grant (Adelle) of Columbus, OH; his sons, Richard (Beth) of Black River Falls and Bruce (Jeri) of Reno, NV; grandchildren, Mark K. Hilliker of Stevens Point, Kristin H. (Peter) Hartung of Tunnel City, Daniel R. (Terri) Hilliker of Rochester, MN, Ian R. Golladay of Eau Claire, Maija G. Golladay of St. Paul, MN, and Jill Dumas of Thurmont, MD; great-grandchildren, Nathan and Elizabeth Hartung of Tunnel City, Grant and Anna Hilliker of Stevens, Point, and Dylan and Jack Hilliker of Rochester, MN; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Pastor John Ambelang and Deacon Linda Frye officiated. Burial followed in the Greenfield Cemetery, Tunnel City. Visitation was on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 1 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah assisted the family with arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Tomah Hospice Touch."
Leigh was buried on 17 September 2008 in Tunnel City, Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.³⁶ in the Greenfield Cemetery.

Leigh Vernon HILLIKER and Jane Louise SMITH were married on 17 November 1934 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{12,36,69,117,118} Jane Louise SMITH, daughter of Roy Abram SMITH and Florence Grace OLSON, was born on 10 November 1913 in Monroe County, WI.²² She graduated in 1931 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI. from Tomah High School. She died before September 2014 at the age of 100.¹¹⁹

Leigh Vernon HILLIKER and Jane Louise SMITH had the following children: