Hazel Louise Hillmer
June 17, 1924 – October 9, 2025
Hazel Louise (Rambo) Schneider Hillmer passed away in her sleep the morning of October 9, 2025 in Laramie, Wyoming. She was born on June 17, 1924 in Arcadia, Nebraska. She was the last child of her parents Elmer H. Rambo and Cora E. (Wayne) Rambo of Arcadia, Nebraska.
Hazel was raised in Arcadia, attended the First United Methodist Church of Arcadia, and graduated Arcadia High School, Class of 1942.
Soon after graduation Hazel moved to Mills, Wyoming to live with her sister Dottie and her husband Berger Bohlin. She found work at Walgreens drugstore, but jobs were scarce because of the war.
Later Hazel moved to Laramie, Wyoming to live with her sister Mabel and her husband Jesse Benson. She found work at Woolworths until she met her future husband Kenneth Eugene Schneider. He was a widower with a daughter, Eugenia Kay.
Hazel wed Kenneth on November 20, 1948 in Casper, Wyoming and they resided in Laramie. Later she gave birth to Diana Maurine at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. She stayed at home to raise the girls. When the girls were older she worked at various grocery stores. Kenneth worked for Union Pacific up until his death at home on August 28, 1975. They had enjoyed the outdoors, camping, fishing, and going to Yellowstone National Park in the summers.
Hazel met and wed Ivan Russell “Bud” Hillmer on July 9, 1977 in Laramie. They resided in Laramie and for a period of time they lived in Jelm, Wyoming, but returned to Laramie. Bud died at home on July 16, 1999. They had traveled including trips to Alaska and winters in Surprise, Arizona.
Hazel worked for 10 years as a clerk for First Interstate Bank of Laramie until retirement in 1986.
Hazel was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Laramie for many years.
Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her sisters Eva Elma Rambo, Mabel Reta Benson, and Dottie May Bohlin, her brothers Charles Lloyd Rambo, Roy James Rambo, Orvel Wayne Rambo, and Ora Elmer Rambo, and grandson Edward Harris.
Hazel is survived by her daughters Eugenia Kay (Schneider) Mahaffey and Diana Maurine (Schneider) Lace (Charles), grandsons Shawn Harris and Christopher Aaron Lace (Brooke), granddaughter Brittany Michelle (Lace) Pereira (Korey), great grandsons, Torin Keane Lace and Gavin Monroe Lace, and great granddaughters Ashton Harris, Aubrey Harris, and Mackenzie Skye Pereira.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Laramie on October 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
To the family of Hazel, my deepest condolences. I had the pleasure of meeting Hazel and she was delightful. What a wonderful long life she lived.
Hazel & I shared a birthday. While delivering her home delivered meal, I walked into her house as friends were singing. Upon hearing that it was my birthday, too, she said come here honey and hit it again girls. We have celebrated together "our day" these past four years. Such a great 100th celebration for a pretty cool lady!
Hazel and my mom, Jean Birkholz were long time dear friends. Years ago they were neighbors across the alley and shared many cups of coffee and morning walks around La Bonte park. They would mow their lawns at the same time and sit and share a beer after. The two also managed to get into trouble with the city of Laramie over said shared ally after engaging a mutual friend that worked for a local cement company. The two conspired to have this friend casually drive down their ally and dump his remaining cement so that Hazel and Jean could rake it out in the ruts and potholes. They were both very proud and satisfied with their hard work and results until the city caught wind of their shenanigans. They were fined $50.00 each. Hazel was an inspiration of grit and determination and she will be truly missed. Jean Birkholz and family