Brigitte Hilse

Brigitte Hilse, 95, from Fort Collins, CO., passed away peacefully on May 14, 2025 at the Pathways Hospice Care Center in Fort Collins, CO.

Brigitte Hilse, nee Kaul, was born on January 30, 1930 in Jauer, Germany, the middle child of Erich and Martha (Gottscheck) Kaul. She married Guenther Hilse in Buttenheim, Germany on October 13, 1951. In 1953 they immigrated to the United States and spent the next 38 years living in the Columbus, Ohio area where Brigitte worked as a cost accountant for the Borden Dairy Co. They moved to Fort Collins, CO in 1997 to be near their daughter Christina (Peter), and their two granddaughters, Jessica and Morgan.

Brigitte was resilient, energetic, creative and always busy! She enjoyed entertaining, singing in the Damenchor at the Germania Club in Columbus, OH, sewing, gardening, quilting, cooking, knitting and traveling. She spent many years volunteering at the Fort Collins Welcome Center, and was recognized by Poudre Valley Hospital for over 4,000 volunteer hours knitting baby hats for newborns. Brigitte had a very outgoing personality and loved to tell stories to everyone she met about the events from her past in Germany.

Brigitte was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Guenther Hilse, her son, Frank Roland Hilse, her parents, both sisters, a brother, and a great grandson.
She is survived by her daughter Christina Hellyer (Peter), granddaughters Jessica (Hunter) Oliver-Allen, Morgan Hellyer, two great-grandchildren, Ryder and Penelope, and one brother, Wolfgang Kaul of Stuttgart, Germany.

A memorial service will be held 1:30 pm on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 1200 S. Taft Hill Rd.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Pathways Hospice, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524