David Joseph Hilliker
March 26, 1957 – February 12, 2025
Longtime Newberry and recent Grand Marais resident, David Joseph Hilliker, 67, died peacefully Wednesday evening, February 12, 2025 in the presence of his loving family and the care of North Woods Hospice.
Born March 26, 1957 in Flint, son of Gordon and Loretta (Ross) Hilliker, David was 1975 graduate of Linden High School. While residing downstate, Dave owned and operated Dave Hilliker Enterprises for several years, working with his good friend “Cowboy” and his mother, Loretta.
Dave later moved to the Upper Peninsula, residing in Newberry. During this time, Dave was well known in the area as a sales associate for Schwan’s Food for several years until his retirement. Dave enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing, hunting, spending time at his cabin and always enjoying a cold bottle of Budweiser beer.
Dave is preceded in death by his father, Gordon.
Survivors include his partner, best friend and companion, Margaret Roberts, of Grand Marais; mother Loretta Hilliker of Flushing; children Tye Hilliker of Burton and Kelly Calhoun of Linden; sisters Tanya (Bob) Howell of Swartz Creek and Teresa Rowe of Fenton; many grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
Per request, cremation services were accorded. A gathering of family and friends celebrating the life of Dave will be held in the summer of 2025 in Grand Marais, with a date and time to be announced.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Karen “Susie” Hibbard
November 22, 1957 – February 11, 2025
Karen “Susie” Hibbard, a family and mental health counselor who lived in Lakefield, died on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 following a brief but determined battle with cancer. She was 67.
Karen, known to most as Susie, was the daughter of Ervin and Margaret Bolz of Battle Creek, Michigan. She was the second youngest of their four children – Vicki, Rick, Susie, and Jim, and a devout member of the Catholic Church.
Susie earned a bachelor’s degree from Albion College in 1975, then began her working career alongside her family at the Union Pump Company in Battle Creek. That’s where she met Chuck Hibbard, employed as a machinist, and the two fell in love.
She took night classes at Western Michigan University (WMU), driving between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo regularly. Susie received her master’s degree from WMU in 1985 with Chuck at her side. Chuck and Susie married in 1987.
After receiving her psychology certification in 1990, Susie spent 35 years working as a counselor. She specialized in anxiety, grief and bereavement, marriage and family, and post traumatic stress disorder.
Susie and Chuck moved to Nebraska in 1993, when he accepted a job for Union Pacific. Susie became the director of counseling for Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska. Four years later, Susie joined a family counseling practice, working with two other counselors. While in Nebraska in 2005, they took in their grandson, Samuel Hutchens, and raised him.
The pair returned to Michigan on Susie’s birthday in 2013 to live closer to her parents, who had retired to Paradise, Michigan. She and Chuck moved to Lakefield, enjoying a secluded log cabin on a wooded piece of land. Susie made the lot beautiful with flowers and a garden. She and Chuck adopted basset hounds, and she enjoyed long walks on her country road. She was an accomplished and avid knitter, creating beautiful pieces – even a jacket for beloved hound, Carson.
Susie diligently spent her days helping clients work through issues and concerns, always preparing the night before for those she’d be speaking with the next day. She left early and came home after hours, persevering in her job. She worked most recently with Weber and Devers Psychological Services in Newberry, until just months before her death.
In addition to her husband, Chuck, and grandson, Samuel, Susie is survived by siblings Vicki (Chuck) Hallaxs of Paradise; Rick (Karen) of Whitefish Point; and Jim (Renee) of Newberry.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Friday, February 21, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m. at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Newberry. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at the church with Fr. Jacek Wtyklo officiating. Rite of Committal will take place in the spring of 2025 at Forest Home Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital Homecare and Hospice, 7870W US Highway 2, Manistique, Michigan 49854 in her loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Phillip A. Carlson
July 8, 1940 – February 6, 2025
Early Thursday morning, February 6, 2025, friend, colleague, uncle, brother, grandpa and dad Phillip A. Carlson went home to be with his Heavenly Father. He loved his family, and nothing made him happier than having everyone together.
He was born to Gertrude (Hancock) and Paul Carlson. He had 4 sisters, and since he was the only boy his mother spoiled him something fierce. Paul loved nicknaming the kids, calling Phil “Pete”. When he got in trouble (frequently!) his name was Phil and the troublemaker was “Pete”, his evil twin.
He loved to have a good time, proven by his amazing laugh. In his teen years he loved to hunt, and he also built “Pete’s Shack” to party in.
After Graduating from Newberry High School as the class president, he joined the National Guard and went to engineering school. He was inspired to save lives after hearing about the 1958 Our Lady of Angels Schoolhouse fire in Chicago where 92 children perished, so he started his career with Grinnell in fire protection.
He excelled quickly through the ranks. Phil connected with people everywhere he went. He loved talking, telling stories with his soothing voice, and was a ladies’ man!
Phil met Irene Voss while working together, and they married at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda, MN August 28, 1971. They honeymooned out west where Phil picked up one of his favorite sayings: Phil was a picky eater, and when he complained about his food a cowboy told him, “Mister I don’t care if you either eat it or wear it.”
Phil and Irene worked with horses, and he was into every western TV show. Since his memory was terrible, he could watch the same ones over and over – but they weren’t worth watching unless it was a happy ending!
Phil started Carlson Fire Protection in 1976. He was a hard worker and was fair, honest, and loved to negotiate! People at Carlson Fire Protection worked hard and partied hard. He always said he never had a bad boss.
Phil wanted 10 kids, but since he hit perfection the first time, he only got Jacklyn. He and Jacklyn were the best of buddies, but once his grandson Carlson was born, he became his “Little Buddy.”
Phil always saw the good in people – he rarely complained, and there was always a bright side. He was demanding, but also generous, polite and grateful. Not a day would go by without him saying, “I am a lucky, lucky man.”
He developed a lot of sayings, like, “put a smile on their face and their whole day would get better.” He was an early riser and he would tell anyone sleeping in, “Get up, it’s daylight in the swamp!” He was adamant about going to church every Sunday and Holy days, but most of the time he couldn’t remember which days those were.
The past year was a blessing, but difficult. It was getting harder for him to watch the kids perform. His greatest joy was being his family. From preschool graduation to football and volleyball games, he was there! He was an amazing man who loved his family above all things earthly and had Jesus in his heart.
His family will miss being able to call him and spend holidays together. They know he will be at every grandchild’s event now, cheering “That’s my angel,” and “Let’s go, buddy!” He was so proud of his family, and they were just as proud of him.
Even when he couldn’t talk when intubated, he would mouth to his family, “I love you so much!” We love you too, Grandpa. So much.
Matthew 25:23: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude and Paul, sisters Paula and Pauline, nephews, and other family. Phil will be dearly missed by his loving daughter, Jacklyn (Greg) Hayes; his two grandchildren, Carlson and Aubry; two sisters, Patricia Masich and Pamela (John) Warren; and nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to https://TwoLightsfoundation.org, a charity for children to receive scholarships for a Christian education.
Funeral services were held February 9, 2025 at the Church of St. Joseph with Father Brandon Theisen presiding. Spring Burial will be at St Gregory’s Catholic Cemetery in Newberry, MI at the family plot.
Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. To view his funeral service or to send online condolences, visit www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.
