Steven W. Hilby

STEVEN W. HILBY

Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Steven W. Hilby, 67, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away Friday evening, Oct. 22, 2021. Steve was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on Aug. 20, 1954, to Douglas and Bernadette Hilby.

Steve graduated from Dubuque Wahlert High School, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa. He began his teaching career at Farley Bankston Catholic Grade School. He went on to teach at Shellsburg Community School where he met his wife, Cyndy. They were married in Dubuque, Iowa, on Aug. 4, 1984. The majority of Steve's career was spent teaching in the Cedar Rapids Community School District including Wilson Middle School, Jefferson High School, and Roosevelt Middle School where he served as principal for the last years of his career. Steve coached baseball and basketball for over 30 years, developing many lasting relationships with athletes and fellow coaches. He loved running into former students and athletes and always remembered their names, even decades later.

Steve took great pride in bettering others. He served as an inspiring figure to students he taught, athletes he coached, people he worked with, and anybody who spent time with him. He had a unique ability to connect with anybody and make them feel important. His humor, his affirmations, and his positivity all helped create lasting impressions on everybody with whom he interacted.

The Hilby family had many adventures together, traveling to all 50 states and several foreign countries. He took great pleasure in carefully planning those trips. Steve also loved playing softball. His goal in retirement was to play on senior softball tournament teams and he accomplished that, playing on teams that won championships in all of the major tournaments, often being named to the All Tournament Team. He was a great teammate and loved the camaraderie of senior softball. Steve also enjoyed bicycling, having just accomplished his long-time goal of riding his bike over Vail Pass. Golf became a great challenge for him, and he loved driving his Iowa Hawkeye golf cart. He took pride in taking on home improvement projects from installing baseboards to finishing a basement. He claimed to make the best Manhattan in the Valley. In retirement, Steve and Cyndy traveled frequently, attended concerts, professional and Hawkeye sporting events, and hung out with great friends, but their favorite activity was spending time with their children. He was so proud of Matt and Kate.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia (nee Tyler); his two children, Matthew (Sarah) and Kathleen (Neal); his parents, Douglas and Bernadette; siblings, James (Clara, dec.), Michael (Janet), Kevin (Diane), Cheryl Kuenster (Kevin), Patrice Brimeyer (Pat), Lisa Urdahl (Kurt), Brian (Bridget) and Charles (Anne); sister-in-law, Kathleen Hughes (John); and his many extended family members and dearly valued friends.

He was preceded in death by his father- and mother-in-law, Duane and Norma Tyler; and brother-in-law, Robert Tyler.

A scholarship fund is being established in Steve's name. Memorial donations may be sent to: Steve Hilby Memorial Fund and mailed to Ohnward Bank & Trust, Attention Kevin King, 665 Marion Blvd., Marion, IA 52302. Donations may also be sent electronically via Zelle to katehilby@gmail.com or Venmo to @Kate-Hilby.

There will be a Celebration of Life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the coming weeks. Details are forthcoming.

Steve was a healthy, active, fully vaccinated 67-year-old who contracted COVID-19. If you want to honor him, please get vaccinated so other families do not have to experience this unbearable pain.