In the darkest hour before dawn on Sept. 26, 2024, lung cancer took Gilford Hoel from us, and he was NOT happy about it. He wanted to stay with Julie, his wife of 45 years, their daughter Jillian Hoel Winters and her daughter, Lola, and their son Timothy Hoel and his wife Brooke and their children Elliana and Cason. He wanted to stay with his brother Rick Hoel and his wife, Pam Cooper Hoel, and their children, Jenifer Hoel (Bryan) Shaw and Jamie Hoel, as well as his sister Kim Hoel Creadick and her husband Chris Creadick and their children, Chelsea Creadick (Chad) Griffith and Lauren Creadick (Tim Platte).
Gil was born in Evanston, Ill., on Oct. 25, 1950, to Jim and Jean Hoel. He graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1968 and went on to college at the University of Arizona during those turbulent years from 1968–1973. Although his degree was in English, he sought work with various agencies serving troubled youth. This included Cottonwood Group Home in Amery, Wis., and the Wilder Foundation’s St. Croix Camp in Sandstone, Minn.
In 1990, Gil earned a Master of Education in Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and settled into a 30-year career as a Marriage and Family Counselor in Minnesota and Wisconsin. After a tornado ripped through Siren, Wis., near our home, Gil also became involved with FEMA Community Disaster Mental Health as Project Coordinators and a program trainer. In these situations, he was always an “elephant whisperer,” using his compassion and humor to encourage people to confront whatever elephant was in their room. This was a skill appreciated by his clients as well as friends, family and colleagues.
Gil enjoyed traveling and meeting people. In typical Gil fashion, his first trip out of the country was to volunteer in a refugee camp in Bosnia. He also visited Vietnam with a group called “Soldier’s Heart.” He accompanied his father on an emotional journey to England and Holland to visit the places he had been in World War II. He did Disaster Mental Health trainings in Palau. In less stressful travels with family and friends, he went to Mexico, Italy, Ireland, Croatia, Morocco and New Zealand, always going out of his way to connect with local people.
His greatest talent was his beautiful voice and perfect ear. Singing in choirs and bands and performing in plays and musicals throughout his life gave him much pleasure. Gil’s love of the outdoors began in his youth as a camper and staff member at YMCA Camp Echo in Fremont, Mich. He enjoyed canoeing, fishing and hunting, especially with friends. He was a spiritual seeker and loved reading poetry and books of self-discovery. He was involved in his community by serving on the school board in Grantsburg, Wis., and the Youth Initiative High School in Viroqua. Gil served on his church council and was President of Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity. He stayed connected to his high school friends through the organizing committee for many reunions.
Gil was preceded in death by his parents, Jean and Jim Hoel of Evanston, Ill., and his in-laws, Betty and Art Van Aman from Northbrook, Ill., and later Ontario, Wis.
The family is grateful for the support and guidance from Hospice Touch in Tomah and Susan Nesbit, End of Life Doula with the Threshold Care Circle in Viroqua. Memorial donations may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or to a charity of your choice in Gil’s name. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve on Saturday, Nov. 2. An optional hike/bike will be at 3 p.m., with dinner and socializing at 5 p.m. followed by a service at 7 p.m.
