I was half awake when I checked my voicemail this morning and came across a message from a friend who informed me that Steve Hilgenberg had died.
If you were fortunate enough to know Steve you were lucky. I didn’t know Steve well but I had enormous respect for him. Some people go to the legislature and become reclusive and private. Steve was just the opposite. He was always willing to talk about southwest Wisconsin and our efforts to serve the communities. He looked you in the eye and told you what he thought. In an era of professional politicians he made it clear that he was only passing through and had no time to waste. He wanted to get things done. Now.
Once when I visited him at his office he asked if he could lay on the couch because he had pain in his back. I didn’t know then that it was the result of his prostate cancer. He apologized to me that he couldn’t sit at his desk. Can you believe that?
God, I’ll miss him! LTW
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