Esther Frances Hopkins, age 74, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2026, at her home in the Town of Wescott. Esther was born in Algoma, Wisconsin on September 28, 1951, daughter of the late Edward and Arkaileen (Braun) Cesar. She graduated from Algoma High School in 1970. Esther moved to Shawano in 1975. In 1979, she and her husband founded Doc's Harley-Davidson where she worked for nearly 20 years. She later went on to work numerous years at Schilling's Quality Printing in Hortonville.

Esther was a beautiful person inside & out. She had a heart of gold. She endured many heartbreaks in her life. Consequently, those experiences brought her much wisdom & empathy for others. Esther's warm and welcoming nature made everyone she met feel special, accepted, & appreciated. Her contagious laugh, sense of humor, & radiant smile could bring light to any moment. Many people affectionately referred to her as Ess or Aunt Ess. Esther was a loyal friend & was fiercely protective of those she loved. Her love was unconditional & forever. Her kids & grandkids were her pride & joy. Esther had a feisty side and wouldn't hesitate to let a person know exactly where they stood when they needed it. She rode many miles on the back of a hardtail (no rear suspension) Harley-Davidson.

Esther never judged a book by its cover, but she loved to judge a book. She was a passionate reader and would put a handwritten note inside each book she read with what she thought of it before sharing the book with others. She was a talented artist and enjoyed hand-making beautiful jewelry. Her uniqueness carried into physical attributes as she was a lefty with hazel eyes. Esther loved to cook & in addition to working & raising two kids, she managed to put a delicious home-cooked meal on the table almost every night. Many of her recipes will carry on for generations to come.

Esther appreciated the simple things in life and found beauty in nature. She loved watching the birds & butterflies. Esther loved all varieties of flowers even the ones that others may consider less valuable. Her love for walking on the beach started as a child when she would sneak out of the house at night to walk alone on the beach in Algoma. She would often pick up a rock and dip it in the water or sometimes even lick it to examine its full colors & beauty. She loved the ocean beaches as well. Some of her favorites were dolphins, manatees, & sea turtles.

Esther's family and friends were always the most important thing in her life. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and she will be deeply missed.

Esther is survived by her children, Kersten (Shannon) Heling and Stephen (Tammy) Hopkins; grandchildren, Ethan Heling, Aksel Heling, Aidan Heling, Stevie Hopkins, Kaitlynn Springborn and Kelsey Reyes; and siblings, Stephanie (Willard) Calmes, John (Joyce) Cesar, Charlotte (Gary) Kirchman and Reuben Cesar. She is further survived by her dear friend, Cindy Keuschel; her former husband, Stephen "Doc" Hopkins; and by numerous cherished nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Esther is preceded in death by her loving fiancé, David Schilling; siblings, Audrey Krautkramer, Rosemarie Nell, Lloyd Cesar and Michael Cesar; and parents, Edward and Arkaileen.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday February 17, 2026, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano with Pastor Scott Ludford officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 11:00 am until the time of the service.