A1C Wade Roger Hillemann, Usaf

A1C Wade Roger Hillemann, USAF, 19, lifetime Ellensburg resident, passed away on January 12, 2023. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 in the Teanaway Hall at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds.

Wade was born in Ellensburg, Washington on April 4, 2003.  He grew up in Ellensburg and attended Valley View Elementary, Morgan Middle School and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 2021.  At the time of his graduation, Wade had not only earned his high school diploma, but also an associate degree in general education through the running start program.

In his youth, Wade enjoyed all that living in the Kittitas Valley had to offer in terms of outdoor activities.  He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed dirt biking, snowmobiling, skiing, and boating with his family in the summer down at Vantage. Many will remember him for his truck - the 2006 Ford F250 that he modified and that you could hear coming before you saw him.

Wade spent the summer of 2021 working for DNR as a wildland firefighter before enlisting in the United States Air Force in October that same year. He was stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey where he was a KC-46 Communication and Navigation Apprentice with the 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Wade was gifted mechanically and was self-taught in many respects, watching many hours of YouTube videos to learn and improve his skills. He also loved to play his banjo, guitars, and sing, and always brought joy to those around him.  He will be remembered for his loyal friendship, his tenacious drive toward improvement and the way he inspired others to be their best.

Wade is survived by his mother, Thea McFadden; sister Julie Hillemann; brother Wyatt Hillemann; his grandmas and grandpa - Vicki Brennan and Roger & Linda McFadden; uncles and aunts Shawn & Kaitlyn McFadden and Timothy & Becka McFadden as well as his great aunt Sue Rasmussen.  He also leaves behind many treasured friends both in Ellensburg and with his unit in New Jersey.

Memorial contributions in Wade’s honor are suggested to Kittitas County Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 1494, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or online at www.KittitasSAR.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com