Gary "Old Dawg" Hilgen

Gary Wayne Hilgen, 74, of Latium, went to his heavenly home in peace on June 10, 2023 surrounded by his family. 

Gary was born on September 4, 1948 in Brenham, TX to Gerhard & Elsa Hilgen and was baptized and confirmed at Greenvine Lutheran Church.  He graduated from Burton High School in 1968 where he was active in sports and FFA.  After graduation, Gary enlisted in the Army National Guard where he served his country during the Vietnam War.

Gary worked all of his life in the hay and cattle business. One day in 1983, he saw a little boy walking along the road, took him in, gave him a home and for a while it was just him and Cisco.  But he found his true love later in life and married Carolyn Yvonne Abke on June 8, 1991. He never had any biological sons, but he was a Dad by every definition of the word and was the man who raised Carolyn’s young boys, Steven and Mark, along with Cisco.  At any given point, you could find him on a tractor, feeding the cows, in his garden, tending his animals, watching the Astros or the Rodeo on tv, and later, in the kitchen of many different restaurants with Carolyn. He was one of the hardest working men there ever was and he passed that work ethic along to all three of his boys.  The “Old Dawg” had many nicknames for himself and for everyone in his life, but when his grandchildren came, his name changed to PaPa and he loved spending as much time as he could with them watching whatever activity they were involved in.

Gary is survived by his wife of 32 years, Carolyn Hilgen of Burton; Sons and Daughters-in-Law, Cisco and Maria Rojas of Burton, Steven and Rebecca Smith of Chappell Hill and Mark and Kristen Smith of Fayetteville; Grandchildren Addison, Karsen, Austin, Gracelyn and Audrey Smith; Sister Burdine Divin of Ellinger; Special Brother-in-Law and Best Friend Darwin “Mertzy” Mertz and Patti, along with numerous other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law Earl and Irene Abke, several other in-laws and other close family members.

Visitation will be Tuesday, June 13, 2023 from 7am to 7pm with family present from 5pm to 7pm at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham.  Funeral service will be Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 10:00am at Memorial Oaks Chapel with Brother Harvey Abke presiding.  Burial to follow at Latium Cemetery.  The family will host a luncheon afterwards at Latium Fire Department.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Karsen and Austin Smith, Doug Divin, Phillip and Tyler Abke, Darin Mertz, Clint Cevallos and Brayden Smith.  Honorary Pallbearers are Darwin Mertz, John and Bradley Divin and all of his Shelby & Latium Friends.

Memorials may be made to Acara Hospice. Services are in the care of Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St. Brenham TX 77833 979-836-4564