Terry Lee Hillestad

LODI - Terry L. Hillestad passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at UW Hospital surrounded by his loving family.  

Terry was born on September 2, 1946, to Lawrence Jr. (June) and Dolores (Oien) Hillestad.  Terry graduated from Poynette High School in 1965.  Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  After boot camp in California, he attended Gunner’s Mate school at Great Lakes Naval Station, and upon graduation, served in Vietnam for a year as a GM3 patrolling rivers from Saigon to the Mekong Delta on small river boats.  When Terry returned from Vietnam, he married Ruth Schrank on September 2, 1967.  They moved to Brooklyn, New York and lived in a small Jewish community called Sea Gate at the tip of Coney Island while Terry served his final 2-year tour of duty on a reserve training ship, the USS Bristol, based out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  The ship sailed to ports along the east coast from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Cuba teaching reserves at over 40 ports of call.  The U.S. Navy recognized Terry for his honorable service with the National Service Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Terry didn’t speak much about his time in the Navy, but he enjoyed meeting up with shipmates at annual reunions which he and Ruth attended for over 20 years.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Terry and Ruth returned to Wisconsin where Terry started his own refrigeration company which would grow to become Hillestad Refrigeration which he founded with four other partners.  They ran the company for nearly 40 years before handing over the reins to the next generation.

Terry enjoyed sailing with his partners.  They sailed in the British Virgin Islands, Lake Michigan and Green Bay.  He and Ruth enjoyed spending time at their cabin in Door County.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Larry, Keith and Paul.  He is survived by his wife, Ruth; sons, Todd (Tracey) and Scott (Melissa); brother, Myron (Jane); sisters-in-law, Nancy, Arline and Alma; as well as five grandchildren, Andrew (Courtney), Emily (Cody), Stephen (Courtney), Matthew (Nicole) and Jeremy (Carlie); also three great grandchildren, Vera, Waylon and Imogen and many other relatives and friends.  

Memorial Service will be held at DEKORRA LUTHERAN CHURCH, N3099 Smith Rd, Poynette, at 11:00 am on Saturday March 28, 2026, with Rev. Sterling Lynk presiding.  Military Honors will follow the service at the church. Burial will be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 157 South Main St. from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, March 27, 2026, and also on Saturday at the church from 9:30 am until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Wisconsin Parkinson’s Foundation, the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank the Lodi EMS, Sauk Prairie ER and Dr. Patel and her team at UW Hospital for their compassionate care of Terry.  Also, thank you to Jerry, Steve, Mark and Junior for their many visits, calls and support over the years.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.gundersonfh.com

Gunderson Lodi

Funeral & Cremation Care

157 S. Main St.

(608) 592-3201