Obituary: Thomas J. “Tom” Hilbert

September 28, 1955 ~ December 12, 2022

Thomas (Tom) Joseph Hilbert, age 67, of Sturgeon Bay, WI, died on December 12, 2022, after a six-year battle with cancer. Tom was born September 28, 1955, in Green Bay, WI. After graduating from Southern Door High School in 1973, Tom earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He began his nursing career in the emergency department at Door County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) and later attended evening classes at Cardinal Stritch College where he earned a Masters in Management.

In 1988, Tom left his position as Chief Nurse of DCMH’s emergency room to pursue a second master’s degree. Tom graduated from the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia in 1990 with a Masters in Nurse Anesthesia. He served as class president and received the Award of Excellence in Clinical Nurse Anesthesia.

After graduating from anesthesia school, Tom worked for the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI, as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) from 1990-2017. He served as Clinical Director of Student Nurse Anesthesia Clinical Training at Marshfield Clinic for St. Mary’s University School of Nurse Anesthesia; he also held the role as Chief Nurse Anesthetist at the Marshfield Clinic for many years before moving back to Sturgeon Bay where he ended his career at the Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic and Surgery Center in Green Bay, WI, as a CRNA from 2017-2019.

Throughout his career Tom was very active with the Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists serving two terms as president of the professional organization. He also served as a guest lecturer for orthopedic and trauma anesthesia at St Mary’s University School of Nurse Anesthesia in Minneapolis, MN. Tom had a passion for his career as a CRNA and always said there was never another profession he would rather be in.

​Tom will be remembered for his sense of humor, smile and laugh. He was kind, dependable and generous. He enjoyed traveling the world, boating, yard work, hunting and driving his MGB. Above all, he found true happiness when surrounded by his family who was by his side throughout his battle with cancer. Tom was married to his high school sweetheart, Roxanne Granius, for 46 years. Roxanne was the love of his life. Together they had three children and three grandchildren that Tom adored more than anything.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Alfons and Betty (Leeg) Hilbert. He is survived by his wife Roxanne; daughter Chalonne (significant other, Chris Andree); sons Ryan (Jessa Lemke) and Connor; grandchildren, Hattie, Hollis, and Harbor; brothers David (Jill), Jack (Monica), Lee (Denise); and, sister, Mary (Dave Hartford).

Funeral services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay.  Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home.  On-line condolences may be offered at forbesfuneralhome.com   In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Door County Medical Center Oncology, the team that gave us excellent care.