Kerilyn Kelly Hickman "Mouse", 49 years young of Kiel, WI was lifted up to dance on the clouds for all eternity surrounded by her loving family on August 26, 2021 following a brief illness. Kerilyn was born in Chilton, WI on February 18, 1972 to Norman and Rosemary (Leonhard) Hickman. She attended and graduated from Riverview School in Manitowoc in 1993, where she was introduced to the Special Olympics (Manitowoc Miracles) events of Basketball Skills, Track and Field, and Bowling. She was an active member of the Miracles until early 2020 winning ribbons and medals too numerous to count. Her birthday parties were held in local bowling alleys so the whole family could join her to see how much better she was than most of us at bowling.

Kerilyn enjoyed collecting aluminum can tabs with some coming from as far away as Arizona and then donating them to The Ronald McDonald House. One of her favorite things was going to Bingo with mom and dad three or four times a week all around the tri-county area. Mouse made many friends at each of the locations. She was the inspiration for her family to start the "Kickball for Charity" tournament that ran for 20 years and raised tens of thousands of dollars for various local charities. Kerilyn loved everyone she met and made friends everywhere she went. She loved to meet people and learn their birthdays and once you told her, she remembered you and your birthday forever…and she could tell you what day of the month your birthday was going to fall on in the current year. She enjoyed going with different siblings to local taverns to just hang out and talked for years about her trip to Graceland. No one who met her was left untouched…to know someone so innocent and full of trust and love is a gift we wish everyone could receive at least once in their lifetime.

Mouse is survived by her mother, Rosemary Hickman (her favorite mom), 4 sisters, Sharon "Kymn" Shicker (her favorite sister), Plymouth, Diane (Eric) Stahl (her favorite sister), Chilton, LuAnne Heinen (her favorite sister) (BJ Nigrelli), Valders, Sherilyn "Cookie" Hickman (her favorite sister), Kiel, and 4 brothers, Myron (Kathleen) (her favorite brother), Newton, Byron (Pat) (her favorite brother), Valders, Duane (Val) (her favorite brother), and Allan "A.J." (her favorite brother), Kiel, and one brother in law, Dennis Rambo, Cato, and her Godparents, Jim and Yvonne Hochkammer, Newton, who never missed the big events in Mouse's life and reinforced the fact that mom and dad picked the perfect couple for the job.

Kerilyn is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews, Rhiannon and Kayla Schicker (Ryan Tauriainen), Michelle Rabe (Dean Jacquart), Kenny (Tina) Alfson, Colene (Chad) Wasmer, Luke (Marie) Hickman, Erik (Sarah) Hickman, Andrea Rambo, Tyler (Mayka) Rambo, and Kristen (Adam) Keehan, Tim and Cody Stahl, Brianne (Phil) Frazier, Adam (Katherina) Hickman, Dustin Heinen (Nicky Francour), Carissa Heinen, McKensie and DJ Hickman, Amber (Dean) Elvert, Ashton, Aaron, Alayna (Jesse) Kalota, and Arianna (Trent Hanson) Hickman, many great and great-great nieces and nephews—each of whom were special to her and at one time or another her favorite when none of the others were around!

Kerilyn was preceded in death by her father, Norman (her favorite daddy), and one sister Karen Rambo (her favorite sister), Cato, one infant nephew, David Hook, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Kerilyn's family would like to extend a very loving thank you to her niece, Colene, for all the extra care and help she provided through her illness and also to her sister-in-law, Val, for the time she took to assist with care, and a very special neighbor and Mouse's lifelong nurse, Georgia Kohlwey, who spent many nights helping to determine when it was time to head to the hospital. They would also like to thank Jason Fidlin of the Aurora Hospice Association as well as the other hospice nurses, and Judine Duerwaechter for her special visit, for their help in Kerilyn's transition to God's eternal home.

A private family service and burial will be held at Union Cemetery at 10 AM with visitation from 9:30 AM until time of service. A celebration of a life well lived and well-loved for all who wish to attend will be held on Saturday, September 4, 2021 from 1 PM until 4 PM at School Hill Athletic Club. She was, and always will be, our only sunshine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Manitowoc Special Olympics in Kerilyn's name.

Meiselwitz-Vollstedt Funeral Home of Kiel is assisting the family.