Obituary for Dean Hillestad
Dean M Hillestad, 75, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away on January 3, 2021, at Hope Hopice after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer.
Dean was born in Lodi, Wisconsin to Vern and Vivian (Peterson) Hillestad on November 9, 1945. He went to school in Lodi and later attended UW-Platteville. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 and served aboard the USS Hoel (DDG13). He was honorably discharged in 1968 and was very proud of his medals as a Vietnam veteran. Many years later he was able to renew friendships with shipmates and in 2017 was the driving force in getting a plaque dedicated to the USS Hoel and installed at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, San Diego, California where many shipmates were able to attend the ceremony.
Dean worked in California from 1968 – 1977 for Hillcoa, a national vitamin company. He then returned to Wisconsin and owned/managed Pit Stop, a convenience store with his father and brother. He served on the Board of Directors of the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores of Wisconsin and was active in the Lodi Chamber of Commerce. He was also founding president of the Lodi Opportunity & Development, a community development corporation. He served as a Lodi City Councilman and a member of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.
One of Dean’s passions was Ford Mustangs. He founded and served as the 1st President of Badgerland Mustang Club in Wisconsin and has kept friendships with many club members to this day. He also was founder and past President of Gulfshore Mustang Club in SW Florida. Dean wrote, published, and marketed Car Club Handbook, and also wrote a newsletter ‘Mustang Matters’. He was elected to the Mustang Club of America National Board of Directors in 2001 and served for 6 years as Chairman of the Mustang Hall of Fame Committee. One of his proudest accomplishments was hosting several of the 1964 team of designers, modelers, engineers, and executives at the 40th Mustang Celebration in Nashville Tennessee in 2004. Dean was also involved in supporting candidates for political office and supported many veteran organizations, such as Travis Mills Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Wounded Warriors, Hawaiian Shirts for the Military, and local American Legions.
Dean will be greatly missed by his wife, Vickie (Olson) Hillestad of Fort Myers. He loved and is survived by his stepchildren, Tracy Flanagan, Tricia Teeter, and Travis Teeter, his son-in-law Jeffrey Peil, and so proud of their only grandson Kellen Peil. Dean is also survived by his sisters, Kathe (Robert) Crowe, and Carol Hillestad, and brother Lee (Marianne) Hillestad. He is further survived by his in-laws known as ‘the whole Olson clan’, many close cousins and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Vivian Hillestad.
Dean will have his final rest at Sarasota National Cemetery. The services will be held on Friday May 21st, 2021 at 10:00AM. Legacy Options in Bonita Springs Florida will be making the arrangements.
Sarasota National Cemetery
9810 State Road 72
Sarasota, FL 34241
Dean was born in Lodi, Wisconsin to Vern and Vivian (Peterson) Hillestad on November 9, 1945. He went to school in Lodi and later attended UW-Platteville. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 and served aboard the USS Hoel (DDG13). He was honorably discharged in 1968 and was very proud of his medals as a Vietnam veteran. Many years later he was able to renew friendships with shipmates and in 2017 was the driving force in getting a plaque dedicated to the USS Hoel and installed at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, San Diego, California where many shipmates were able to attend the ceremony.
Dean worked in California from 1968 – 1977 for Hillcoa, a national vitamin company. He then returned to Wisconsin and owned/managed Pit Stop, a convenience store with his father and brother. He served on the Board of Directors of the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores of Wisconsin and was active in the Lodi Chamber of Commerce. He was also founding president of the Lodi Opportunity & Development, a community development corporation. He served as a Lodi City Councilman and a member of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.
One of Dean’s passions was Ford Mustangs. He founded and served as the 1st President of Badgerland Mustang Club in Wisconsin and has kept friendships with many club members to this day. He also was founder and past President of Gulfshore Mustang Club in SW Florida. Dean wrote, published, and marketed Car Club Handbook, and also wrote a newsletter ‘Mustang Matters’. He was elected to the Mustang Club of America National Board of Directors in 2001 and served for 6 years as Chairman of the Mustang Hall of Fame Committee. One of his proudest accomplishments was hosting several of the 1964 team of designers, modelers, engineers, and executives at the 40th Mustang Celebration in Nashville Tennessee in 2004. Dean was also involved in supporting candidates for political office and supported many veteran organizations, such as Travis Mills Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Wounded Warriors, Hawaiian Shirts for the Military, and local American Legions.
Dean will be greatly missed by his wife, Vickie (Olson) Hillestad of Fort Myers. He loved and is survived by his stepchildren, Tracy Flanagan, Tricia Teeter, and Travis Teeter, his son-in-law Jeffrey Peil, and so proud of their only grandson Kellen Peil. Dean is also survived by his sisters, Kathe (Robert) Crowe, and Carol Hillestad, and brother Lee (Marianne) Hillestad. He is further survived by his in-laws known as ‘the whole Olson clan’, many close cousins and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Vivian Hillestad.
Dean will have his final rest at Sarasota National Cemetery. The services will be held on Friday May 21st, 2021 at 10:00AM. Legacy Options in Bonita Springs Florida will be making the arrangements.
Sarasota National Cemetery
9810 State Road 72
Sarasota, FL 34241