Irene Hietpas

Irene M. Hietpas - Kaukauna - Age 84, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at St. Paul Villa. Irene was born on Jan. 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 in Little Chute where she met her husband, Ken. They married Oct. 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 Rosehill Road 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 years. She also worked at Fleet Farm and for the Outagamie Sheriff’s Department. She enjoyed volunteering at St. Paul Elder Care, Pillars, and Feed America. She was a member of both Holy Cross Church and St. Mary 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, Ariz., 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 eight grandkids: Amanda (special friend Geoff), Adam (Michael), Tanner, Josh, Noah, Kaleb (Alexa), Katie (Ted) and Ryan (special friend Anne). The blessings continued and she was able to also touch the lives of seven great-grandchildren: Kayla, Logan, and Grant, Brooklyn and Asher, Violet and Lilah. Survivors include her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, along with her brother Gene (Susan) Wildenberg, her sisters-in-law: 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 and Margaret Hietpas, Roger and Pat Hietpas, Elaine and Pete VanDera, Irene and Norbert Roffers, Omar and Shirley Hietpas, Alice Nackers, Lois and Claton Liebergen, Eugene and Susan Hietpas, and Merlin Hietpas. The family would like to thank the nursing staff at the St Paul 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 hospice team. You all have such caring souls. A funeral visitation will held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13, St. Katharine Drexel Parish – St. Mary site, located at 119 W. 7th Street in Kaukauna, with a mass to follow at 1 p.m. officiated by Fr. Mark Rydell. Irene will be laid to rest with her husband, Ken at St. John Cemetery in Little Chute following the service.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Kaukauna, 920-766-6200