Irene M. Hietpas

Irene M. Hietpas, age 84, of Kaukauna, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024, at St. Paul’s Villa. Irene was born on January 1, 1940, and always boasted of being a New Years Baby! She was the daughter of Willard and Clara Wildenberg. She attended School at St. John’s in Little Chute where she met her husband, Ken. They married October 8, 1959, and lived in Little Chute until Ken was called to the Army in Washington State. They then packed up all their belongings and drove to Washington with their new baby to live for a year. After Ken was done with his service they moved back to Little Chute and built their new home on Rose hill Rd in Kaukauna.

Irene was always a hands-on, hard-working woman who loved to prove to men that she could do things just as well as they did! She and Ken owned the “sharp-It-Shop” in Kaukauna for 13 yrs. She also worked at Fleet Farm and for the Outagamie Sheriff’s Department. She enjoyed volunteering at St. Paul’s Elder Care, Pillars and Feed America. She was a member of Both Holy Cross Church and St Mary’s Church where she was involved in the choir and many other activities. She and Ken participated and spoke in Cursillo, Marriage Encounters and several retreats. After retiring, they sold their home and bought a motor home where they put on many miles driving all over the USA. When they tired of driving, they spent their winters in Yuma, AZ where they bought a winter home and spent their summers back in Kaukauna near their children and grandchildren. Irene loved spending her retirement attending to all her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s extra curriculars, from wrestling, baseball and football to plays, dances and concerts.

Irene and Ken were blessed with three children: Lisa (Keith) VandenHeuvel, Tammy (Clay) Eiting, and Jody (Liz) Hietpas. She was also a proud GiGi to 8 grandkids: Amanda (special friend Geoff), Adam (Michael), Tanner, Josh, Noah, Kaleb (Alexa), Katie (Ted) & Ryan (special friend Anne). The blessings continued and she was able to also touch the lives of 7 Great Grandchildren: Kayla, Logan, & Grant, Brooklyn & Asher, Violet & Lilah.

Survivors include her children, grandchildren & great grandchildren, along with her brother Gene (Susan) Wildenberg, her Sister-in-laws Germaine Hietpas, O.P., and Rose Hietpas and Brother-in-law Leo Nackers.

In addition to her husband Ken and her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother James Wildenberg along with in-laws: Paul & Margaret Hietpas, Roger & Pat Hietpas, Elaine & Pete VanDera, Irene & Norbert Roffers, Omar & Shirley Hietpas, Alice Nackers, Lois & Claton Liebergen, Eugene & Susan Hietpas, Merlin Hietpas.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at the St Paul’s Villa for all their care and concern and for having to put up with all her shenanigans. Also, for the nurses in the rehab especially Maggie, you were her angel, and St. Paul’s hospice team. You all have such caring souls.

A funeral visitation will be held from 11:00am – 1:00pm on Friday, September 13, 2024, St. Katharine Drexel Parish – St. Mary’s Site, located at 119 W. 7th Street in Kaukauna, with a mass to follow at 1:00pm officiated by Fr. Mark Rydell. Irene will be laid to rest with her husband, Ken at St John’s Cemetery in Little Chute following the service.