Richard L. “Dick” Hillwig

Richard L. “Dick” Hillwig, 86, of Chicora, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, May 6, 2024 at Butler Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Richard was born in Brady’s Bend on January 13, 1938.  He was the son of the late Leo “Rocky” and Beulah “Boots” Dowling Hillwig.

Dick attended East Brady High School but opted to leave and join the U.S. Army in 1955, having lied about his age.  He spent 2 ½ years stationed in Germany, a country he instantly fell in love with.  Dick left the Army in 1958 as an E4 Specialist, and later received his G.E.D. He had a love of travel even then, spending time as a mailman in Texas before returning to his home state of Pennsylvania.  After spending five years underground employed by OPM in Boyers, he spent the next 35 years as an employee of Witco Chemical in Petrolia.

There were three days Dick never missed—the first day of trout season, the first day of hunting season, and any league bowling day.  He loved bowling.  He’d polish his bowling ball, clean his shoes, and head to Butler or Bruin.  That paid off when he bowled his first 300 game in 2009 at the age of 71.  He loved hunting, particularly deer and turkey.  Any day waiting for his dog, Dusty to bring the rabbit around again was a good day for him.  He combined his love of hunting with his love of travel and travel/hunting/fishing trips began!  Fishing in Canada with brothers and friends led to the Elk hunt in Washington with his brother, mule deer hunts with his brother, son, and sons-in-law, and the whitetail hunt in Wisconsin with his daughter and son-in-law.  He loved fishing, and knew just where to go for each season.  Trout, steelhead, bass, or crappie, just ask and he’d take you there and even bait your hook!  Everyone knew he’d send you to his favorite place first-Lake Erie and it’s tributaries.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #488 in Brady’s Bend.  He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chicora.  He ice skated on the Allegheny which led to using those skating skills as a speed skater and tournament barrel-jumper while stationed in Germany.  He played in an old time baseball game and was even on Bowling for Dollars in the 70s.

He loved all Pittsburgh sports-Penguins, Steelers, and most especially the Pirates. He would seldom miss a season opener or March Madness, unless he was in Vegas or at the Rainbow Trout Ranch.

He was a practical joker who loved to make people laugh.  He would talk to anyone he met.  You couldn’t take him anywhere without running into someone he already knew or got to know in five minutes at the cash register.  He leaves behind memories that make us all smile and laugh, family and friends who will miss him every day and love for the outdoors that has been passed on through three generations.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Marilyn (Cleland) Hillwig, whom he married in Chicora on May 5, 1990.  Also surviving are his daughters, Tamara Phares and her husband, Jim, Teresa Hillwig and her spouse, Becky Kandrac, and Elizabeth Blair and her husband, Wayne; a son, Erik Hillwig and his wife, Mandy; his grandchildren, Hannah Apatang (Derald), Dylan Phares, Alexis Conner, Adam Cousins (Whitney), Cole Blair (Olivia), Tanner Blair (Josie), Kiersten, Zoey and Emily Hillwig; his great grandchildren, Madeline Apatang, Ava Kerry, Grayson and Lincoln Cousins, Holden and Haiden Blair, Kameron, Peyton, Rory and Dax Blair; his siblings and their spouses, Barb and Lou “Butch” Frischkorn, Larry Hillwig, Lee and Sharon Hillwig, Terry Hillwig, Sherry Thomas, Chris Hillwig, Tee Hillwig, and Becky and Bud Snyder, his brother-in-law, Alan Cleland, his children’s mother, Sandra Moore Hillwig and countless nieces, nephews, cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Donna Myers and Saundra Evankovich; two brothers, Danny and Val Dane and a number of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 1-3 and 5-7 p.m. Sunday and from 11 a.m. – 12 Noon on Monday in The Good Shepard Room at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2217 Chicora Rd., Chicora, where a funeral service will follow at Noon with the Rev. Joseph Boomhower, church pastor, officiating.  Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by members of the Brady’s Bend and Chicora American Legion Posts.  Memorial contributions may be made to PA Trout Unlimited at patrout.org or UPMC Hillman Cancer Center at Butler Health System, 129 Oneida Valley Road, Suite 311, Butler PA 16001.  Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.