After 49 years of marriage, Alan and Jean Hilgeman are enjoying two very different ways of living.
Their home at St. John’s on the Lake keeps them connected to the energy and amenities of downtown Milwaukee, while their home at Cedar Community offers trails, nature, Big Cedar Lake, and what Alan describes as an environment similar to a state park.
For the Hilgemans, the combination gives them the freedom to keep traveling, stay active, spend time with family, and choose where they want to be based on the life they want to live that day.
A Life Built Around Staying Active
Alan and Jean’s story began in healthcare when they met in the intensive care unit during Alan’s early training.
Alan spent more than three decades as a physician, primarily practicing in Menomonee Falls before retiring in 2015. Jean, a nurse, worked part time while raising their children before retiring in her mid-50s.
In 2020, they moved from their Brookfield home, where they had raised their two sons, to St. John’s on the Lake in Milwaukee.
They had also toured Cedar Community, but what they were looking for was not available at the time and they didn’t want to wait.
That changed when The Lofts at Cedar Lake offered the space and amenities that fit their needs. In April 2024, they added Cedar Community as their second home.
Travel Has Always Been Part of the Plan
Retirement opened the door to even more travel for Alan and Jean.
The couple purchased a motorhome and spent the next 10 years exploring.
“We traveled all over the United States — north, south, east, and west,” Alan says. “Every winter, we’d spend a couple of months along the Gulf Coast. That became our winter home.”
Their love of adventure has always been part of their lives.
From biking and hiking to Jean’s interest in showing Arabian horses and training Shelties, staying active has remained an important part of their lifestyle.
It is also one of the reasons Cedar Community appealed to them.
“We’ve always been bicyclists,” Alan says.
Exploring the Eisenbahn Trail and Horicon Marsh trails are now regular adventures for the couple.
A Thoughtful Approach to Downsizing
When Alan and Jean first began thinking about downsizing, they considered smaller homes and condos.
Nothing felt quite right.
That’s when Alan began considering a move to a retirement community. For them, the decision was partly about simplifying the future and avoiding a series of moves as their needs changed.
“We decided to downsize once instead of moving from one place to another every few years,” he explains.
Their connection to Cedar Community never disappeared.
Alan had known about Cedar Community through former patients and had heard positive things about it for years.
“I’ve known about Cedar Community for years,” he says. “People always said great things about it.”
Jean and Alan had also spent time enjoying Cedar Community’s natural setting before they ever lived there.
“We always loved it out here,” Jean says. “We would come out just to walk and enjoy nature. When The Lofts opened, it felt like it was meant to be.”
Two Places, One Lifestyle
Today, Alan and Jean split their time between Cedar Community and their home at St. John’s on the Lake in downtown Milwaukee.
In the winter, they tend to spend more time downtown. During the warmer months, they enjoy Cedar Community’s trails, lake, and quieter natural setting.
Their schedule remains flexible and often depends on social plans, family visits, and activities.
“We plan around what we have going on — friends, events, time with our grandkids,” Jean says.
The couple has eight grandchildren, ranging in age from five to 18, and staying connected with family remains an important part of their lives.
For Alan and Jean, having two homes isn’t about choosing one lifestyle over another. It allows them to enjoy the things they value about both.
Nature Is Part of Everyday Life at Cedar
At Cedar Community, nature plays an important role in Alan and Jean’s daily routine.
“We walk the trails almost every day,” Alan says. “The nature is just incredible.”
Evenings often end with a trip down to Big Cedar Lake to watch the sunset.
“We’ll take our golf cart down to watch the sunset,” Jean says. “Whoever shows up, shows up.”
“It’s informal — but it’s my favorite time of day.”
As Involved as You Want to Be
Alan and Jean have also embraced opportunities to get involved at Cedar Community.
Alan volunteers with the grounds crew, helping with outdoor projects, assisting with maple syruping, and driving the pontoon boat.
Jean participates in fitness classes and knitting groups, and together they enjoy social gatherings throughout the community.
“It’s a nice mix of activities,” Jean says. “You can be as involved as you want to be.”
That flexibility is part of what makes life at Cedar work for them. There are plenty of ways to participate, but residents can choose what fits their interests and schedules.
Freedom to Lock the Door and Go
For Alan and Jean, one of the biggest benefits of community living is the freedom it provides.
“It’s turnkey,” Alan explains. “If we want to leave, we just lock the door and go, and we know everything is taken care of.”
That peace of mind has allowed them to continue traveling, including a recent trip to Costa Rica, while maintaining an active and social lifestyle at home.
Alan and Jean also appreciate the contrast between their two communities.
“They’re completely different experiences,” Jean says. “Different people, different environments — but both are wonderful in their own ways.”
The Best of Both Worlds
Life continues to be an adventure for the Hilgemans.
Whether they’re biking local trails, exploring nearby towns, traveling, gathering with friends, spending time with family, or watching the sunset over Big Cedar Lake, Alan and Jean have created a retirement that reflects the way they want to live.
“We feel lucky,” Alan says. “We get to experience two incredible communities in different ways.”
Originally published in the Summer 2026 issue of Live More magazine.
