Colonel Clara Ann Hilquist, 87, of Decatur, formerly of Park Ridge, died on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, at Randall Residence.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday Dec. 27, at St. Maurice Catholic Church in Morrisonville. Burial was at St. Maurice Cemetery in Morrisonville. A lunch followed at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Morrisonville. Moran and Goebel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, in Decatur, assisted the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Hilquist was born on Jan. 26, 1932, in Morrisonville, to George and Veronica (Goebel) Richter. After graduating from Morrisonville High School in 1949, she attended St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield. Upon her graduation in 1952, Mrs. Hilquist started her nursing career at St John’s Hospital. She then moved to Evanston, where she worked and attended school, graduating from DePaul University in 1960 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Seeking new experiences and challenging herself, she joined the United States Air Force Reserve Nurse Corp at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. She served at Cook County Hospital, Great Lakes Hospitals and in 1965 completed Flight Nursing School to earn her flight wings.
In 1972, she met her husband Thomas, an Air Force pilot. They met at a military dance and were married shortly thereafter. Throughout their early marriage, they travelled extensively. On occasion, he was the pilot flying her Flight Nurse group to their assignments.
Mrs. Hilquist was an exceptional nurse, earning leadership positions throughout her civilian and military careers. In her civilian nursing career, Mrs. Hilquist was trained in Critical Care and set up the first ICU/CCU at Evanston Hospital in Evanston. She served as Head Nurse in this position from 1967-1977. In spite of losing her leg in a multiple vehicle accident in 1985, she returned to work a year later. She continued to work in various fields of nursing, finishing her 43 year career doing medical record coding.
Mrs. Hilquist very close to her family. She was a devoted aunt, who seldom missed sending a card for every holiday on the calendar to all of the children in her extended family, always including some money to be used by the child for a treat.
Mrs. Hilquist is survived by her siblings, Rose Mundhenke of Morrisonville, Jim Richter of Taylorville, Gerald Richter of Mt Zion, brother-in-law, David (Karen) Hilquist of Hawthorne Woods, sister-in-law, Linda Richter of Gretna NE and sister-in-law Jackie Hodlick of California; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, including Karl and Janet Pezzelle.
Memorials may be directed to St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield. Condolences may be left online at www.moranandgoebel.com.
