Carlton DeWayne Hill, 81

Carlton DeWayne Hill, age 81, resident of Spooner, Wisconsin, was called home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Care and Rehab in Cumberland, WI. Carlton was born on October 3, 1944, in Red Wing, Minnesota, to parents Carl and Deloris (Hinderaker) Hill, and was raised in a beautiful home on East Avenue.

He was drafted by the U.S. Army and served as a medic in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1968-1969, meriting a Purple Heart for his valor and injuries received. During this difficult time, he and Kathryn Halverson began writing to each other, rekindling an earlier romantic relationship. They married on December 6, 1969, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Haycreek, MN.

In 1972, they moved from River Falls, WI, to Bozeman, Montana, with their one-year-old son Chad. Carl began his teaching career in Whitehall, MT. Carl earned an MA in Education from the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1975. The young family returned to the Midwest the following year, and after a brief time in southern Wisconsin, moved to the beautiful Northwoods.

Carl began his position as Special Education Teacher in Minong, WI, in 1978, where he patiently taught for the next twenty-eight years. Over the next four years, their family grew to five with the births of Kristin and Erik.

Carl was a resourceful handyman and diligently improved their home in rural Spooner. Carl was a devoted husband and loving father, who always strove to provide the best for his family. Carl loved fishing, canoeing, hunting, and hiking in the Northwoods and taking family vacations throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Carl and Kathy's love for the mountains took them back to their beloved Montana many times over the next four decades. Later in life, they escaped the long winters by RVing to southern Texas and spent many hours bird-watching. Carl also enjoyed reading, music, history, and staying informed of current events.

Carl is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Kathy; son Chad (Tamera) of Onalaska, daughter Kristin (Shayne) Swonger of Trego, son Erik (Kate) of Cleveland, Ohio, grandchildren Angelique, Braeden, Mischa, Ryker, Anders, and Aletheia; and brother Robert, as well as extended family. He is preceded in death by his brother Colonel Eugene, parents, sister Ruth Price, and in-laws Gwen and Richard Heesch.

Memorial services for Carlton Hill were held on October 9, 2026, at Spooner Wesleyan Church, with Pastor Jason Sanders officiating. Interment with military honors was conducted at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.