Donna Kae Hilgeman

Donna Kae Horn Hilgeman was born on August 30, 1934, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to Ella Amelia Dittmar Horn and Kenneth Carl Horn. She spent her childhood in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, the elder sister of Maryl Jo and Kenneth Carl Jr. (K.C.). She was salutatorian of Mukwonago High School Class of 1952. Her accolades as an outstanding student were noted in the Waukesha Daily Freeman’s Monday, May 12, 1952, article: “Waukesha Continental Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution—special guests were the Good Citizenship Girls of Waukesha County, … included Donna Horn of Mukwonago. These girls were elected from their high schools for dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.”

She went on to study education and music at Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee (now University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee). She was elected vice president and treasurer of the Marietta House, served on the Interdorm Council, and was a member of the Girls Glee Club in 1955, A Cappella Choir, Choral Ensemble, ACE and band. She was initiated as a member of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an honor society in education. She received her degree in lower elementary education in 1956.

She met her husband, Paul Hilgeman, in the band; she played clarinet and he the trumpet. They married on October 26, 1957, and spent the early years of their marriage in Germany while Paul served in the Seventh Army Symphony and concertized in halls throughout Europe. Returning from their adventures, they lived in Milwaukee, where Donna taught kindergarten and Paul taught band.

They moved to Indianapolis in 1961 when Paul joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Here, they first lived in Butler Tarkington, welcoming three children (Liese, Laura and Paul David [P.D.]) into a home rich in music, international cuisine, and many engaging extracurricular activities. These activities ranged from scouting and camping to footlight musicals, travel, swimming, cross-country skiing, ballet, tennis lessons and horseback riding. Donna was also active in the parents’ association at the Orchard Country Day School when her children attended. She was often present on field trips, band excursions, and at maple-sugaring bonfires.

The family spent summers in Chicago, where Paul played in the Grant Park Concerts (now the Grant Park Music Festival). Donna and Paul took the children to Chicago’s parks, beaches, and museums. They lived on the University of Chicago campus in married student housing with many international students, where Donna acquired her interest in preparing international dishes.

Donna was an active member of the Catharine Merrill Club, hosting meetings and giving presentations. She was an avid reader and returned to school to receive her Master of Science Degree in Education from Indiana University at IUPUI in 1985. She served as a curriculum coordinator at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, creating educational tours and programming for visiting Indiana school groups. After retiring from that position, she was an active docent at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, leading tours for general audiences.

She and Paul loved to travel in their retirement (perhaps reliving their camping escapades of touring Europe in the 1950s). Rather than driving a compact Renault Dauphine as they had then, they bought brand new BMWs in Munich. They drove the BMWs through Switzerland to hike in the Alpine climes they so loved. Imbibing and eating were always an important part of the itinerary. They also enjoyed traveling to China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Mexico. They loved scuba diving in the Cayman Islands and took frequent trips with Ambassadair, including short jaunts to the Caribbean or to Boothbay for lobster dinners.

Donna was a gifted pianist and played a mean autoharp for the Girl Scout sing-alongs and folk music badges. The house on Boulevard Place was always filled with boxes upon boxes of Girl Scout cookies once a year during those fundraising weeks. She would accompany her daughters door to door (but stayed on the sidewalk) and call all the other moms to coordinate pickup and distribution. She enjoyed gardening and refinishing antiques, but one of her more interesting accomplishments was learning to play the accordion (well after being certified as a scuba diver).

Donna is survived by her husband of over 67 years, Paul; her brother Kenneth Carl Horn (Victoria) of Madison, WI, her daughters Liese Hilgeman of Indianapolis and Laura Miller (Gregory) of Silver Spring, MD; and six grandchildren—Lilan Skye Miller of Hyattsville, MD; Winston Henry Miller of Carson City, NV; Emerson Paul Miller of Washington, DC; Olivia Greer Miller of Silver Spring, MD; Owen Gregory Miller of Silver Spring, MD, and Tessa Shea Miller of Silver Spring, MD. She is lovingly remembered by her extended family of cousins and nephews and their families as well as lifelong friends.

She is preceded in death by her son, Paul David Hilgeman II, her parents, Ken and Ella Horn, and her sister Maryl Jo Glasschroeder.

Donations can be made in her name to the Eiteljorg Museum

A visitation for Donna will be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, followed by a funeral service at 4:00 PM.