Most people don't know "Lillian" Hoesly. Rather, they know her by "Toots" - the name behind the face that can almost always be found at Hoesly's Meats. The nickname was given to her so long ago that, although she can speculate, she has no idea where it might have originated.
The New Glarus native only left town shortly before returning with her husband to start the business that she says has been the answer to finding more out of life. It was initially her husband's dream - but the meat processing plant and retail store has been something Hoesly loves and enjoys. She now even finds delight in working alongside her children each day with community, employees, tourists and farm families who have shown strong support for a community favorite.
Hoesly was born in Green County and grew up in the New Glarus area. The family of eight children struggled and often moved to different farms. As a child, she found solace and importance in Sunday school at Primrose Lutheran Church.
The family found fun in the busyness of chores and the farm during Hoesly's younger years. They often played in the yard, shared a single bicycle and held softball games in the pasture. Participating in 4-H was one of the special things they would wait for.
"One of the yearly things we looked forward to was the county fair," she said.
Getting off the farm was a treat for the family, and they had a chance to experience some fun things at the fair. Hoesly often took cooking and sewing projects - both things she did with her mother at home.
Their farm had cows, chickens and pigs. Hoesly recalls gathering eggs regularly, which her family could sometimes trade for other groceries. They had big gardens and spent summers tending to them along with lots of time canning to prepare for the winter.
Hoesly attended one year of country school, and eventually went to elementary school in New Glarus. In high school, she ran track her freshman and sophomore years, but eventually it was more important for her to work than to participate in sports. She cleaned rooms at the Swiss-Aire Motel in New Glarus and also worked with her mom waiting tables at the Swiss Lanes Bowling Alley in town. She lived on her own during her later years in high school, although she stayed close to her family, always wanting more than what was offered on the farm.
The 1973 graduate of New Glarus High School said she didn't have money for college plans - instead, after graduation, she began working as a CNA at Pleasant View Nursing Home for a few years. She soon met her husband, Dennis, and the couple moved to Mondovi for a short time.
She also welcomed a stepdaughter into her life, and soon Hoesly and her husband started a family together. She became a stay-at-home mom for a long time, sometimes watching other children in her home. They eventually moved back to New Glarus to be closer to family, and it wasn't long before Dennis came home with the idea to start their own meat processing plant.
"I was on board," Hoesly said. "It was his dream."
They purchased a business and turned it into a processing facility for beef and pork in 1983. They stayed at the location for 10 years before code changes and necessary upgrades had them build their current facility around 1993. Since, they've added onto the building numerous times.
The business was risky at first, and the new facility added stress. Hoesly said in the beginning competition was steep and everything was on the line. Before they went ahead with the new building, they talked with farmers to make sure they would have their support. They kept their word.
The couple worked side by side, doing everything they could to make it. For a long time, it was just the two of them, along with longtime employee Hazel Keehn.
"Dennis and I have worked together hand in hand for 35 years," Hoesly said. "We probably have had more good times. I think we do really well together as partners and business owners."
Through the years, the business steadied, and the couple felt supported by their community and its tourists; they had a strong group of employees, and their radius slowly increased. They now process meat locally and from as far away as Beloit, Edgerton and Janesville.
"Our confidence builder came from Ed Hirsch," Hoesly said of the banker. "He stood behind us and believed we could do it. We never looked back. We just had to keep moving forward."
Part of their success, she said, is also attributed to their sausage maker, Tim Kummer, who has worked for them for several years.
As the couple's children grew up, Hoesly said evenings were hectic with sports and other activities. They always tried to spend time together and every five years would take a big vacation just to get together.
In recent years, the couple's two children, Dusten and Devon, have become partners in the business, working alongside their parents. Dusten earned the Master Meat Crafters Award in 2012.
Hoesly now heads up the retail and accounting parts of the business and works closely with her daughter, Devon.
"I love what I do," Hoesly said, noting that her favorite thing - everyone would say - is to be on the phone visiting with longtime customers, checking in with their families and their lives through the years.
Although it's hard to get away as a small-business owner, the couple recently purchased a home on a lake that has been a way to escape for a little while to enjoy their children and grandchildren. Her favorite part is hearing her grandchildren talk about the memories made there.
"We don't go as much as we'd like," Hoesly said. "It gets us away from the business setting into a family setting."
Although her children are stepping in, Hoesly admits it's hard to let some parts of the business go.
"I'm finding the pieces to that puzzle," Hoesly said. "We have great help - wonderful help - we wouldn't be where we're at today without our staple people."
She also said that being in New Glarus has also been a special added touch for their business. It's their hometown and has likely provided the couple with more opportunity for their retail shop because of its tourist appeal.
But their success hasn't come without hard work, perseverance and dedication.
"I honestly don't know where I got my ambition and drive," Hoesly said. "I think I just wanted more out of life. I had great times growing up - maybe that's what gave me the drive to succeed."
The New Glarus native only left town shortly before returning with her husband to start the business that she says has been the answer to finding more out of life. It was initially her husband's dream - but the meat processing plant and retail store has been something Hoesly loves and enjoys. She now even finds delight in working alongside her children each day with community, employees, tourists and farm families who have shown strong support for a community favorite.
Hoesly was born in Green County and grew up in the New Glarus area. The family of eight children struggled and often moved to different farms. As a child, she found solace and importance in Sunday school at Primrose Lutheran Church.
The family found fun in the busyness of chores and the farm during Hoesly's younger years. They often played in the yard, shared a single bicycle and held softball games in the pasture. Participating in 4-H was one of the special things they would wait for.
"One of the yearly things we looked forward to was the county fair," she said.
Getting off the farm was a treat for the family, and they had a chance to experience some fun things at the fair. Hoesly often took cooking and sewing projects - both things she did with her mother at home.
Their farm had cows, chickens and pigs. Hoesly recalls gathering eggs regularly, which her family could sometimes trade for other groceries. They had big gardens and spent summers tending to them along with lots of time canning to prepare for the winter.
Hoesly attended one year of country school, and eventually went to elementary school in New Glarus. In high school, she ran track her freshman and sophomore years, but eventually it was more important for her to work than to participate in sports. She cleaned rooms at the Swiss-Aire Motel in New Glarus and also worked with her mom waiting tables at the Swiss Lanes Bowling Alley in town. She lived on her own during her later years in high school, although she stayed close to her family, always wanting more than what was offered on the farm.
The 1973 graduate of New Glarus High School said she didn't have money for college plans - instead, after graduation, she began working as a CNA at Pleasant View Nursing Home for a few years. She soon met her husband, Dennis, and the couple moved to Mondovi for a short time.
She also welcomed a stepdaughter into her life, and soon Hoesly and her husband started a family together. She became a stay-at-home mom for a long time, sometimes watching other children in her home. They eventually moved back to New Glarus to be closer to family, and it wasn't long before Dennis came home with the idea to start their own meat processing plant.
"I was on board," Hoesly said. "It was his dream."
They purchased a business and turned it into a processing facility for beef and pork in 1983. They stayed at the location for 10 years before code changes and necessary upgrades had them build their current facility around 1993. Since, they've added onto the building numerous times.
The business was risky at first, and the new facility added stress. Hoesly said in the beginning competition was steep and everything was on the line. Before they went ahead with the new building, they talked with farmers to make sure they would have their support. They kept their word.
The couple worked side by side, doing everything they could to make it. For a long time, it was just the two of them, along with longtime employee Hazel Keehn.
"Dennis and I have worked together hand in hand for 35 years," Hoesly said. "We probably have had more good times. I think we do really well together as partners and business owners."
Through the years, the business steadied, and the couple felt supported by their community and its tourists; they had a strong group of employees, and their radius slowly increased. They now process meat locally and from as far away as Beloit, Edgerton and Janesville.
"Our confidence builder came from Ed Hirsch," Hoesly said of the banker. "He stood behind us and believed we could do it. We never looked back. We just had to keep moving forward."
Part of their success, she said, is also attributed to their sausage maker, Tim Kummer, who has worked for them for several years.
As the couple's children grew up, Hoesly said evenings were hectic with sports and other activities. They always tried to spend time together and every five years would take a big vacation just to get together.
In recent years, the couple's two children, Dusten and Devon, have become partners in the business, working alongside their parents. Dusten earned the Master Meat Crafters Award in 2012.
Hoesly now heads up the retail and accounting parts of the business and works closely with her daughter, Devon.
"I love what I do," Hoesly said, noting that her favorite thing - everyone would say - is to be on the phone visiting with longtime customers, checking in with their families and their lives through the years.
Although it's hard to get away as a small-business owner, the couple recently purchased a home on a lake that has been a way to escape for a little while to enjoy their children and grandchildren. Her favorite part is hearing her grandchildren talk about the memories made there.
"We don't go as much as we'd like," Hoesly said. "It gets us away from the business setting into a family setting."
Although her children are stepping in, Hoesly admits it's hard to let some parts of the business go.
"I'm finding the pieces to that puzzle," Hoesly said. "We have great help - wonderful help - we wouldn't be where we're at today without our staple people."
She also said that being in New Glarus has also been a special added touch for their business. It's their hometown and has likely provided the couple with more opportunity for their retail shop because of its tourist appeal.
But their success hasn't come without hard work, perseverance and dedication.
"I honestly don't know where I got my ambition and drive," Hoesly said. "I think I just wanted more out of life. I had great times growing up - maybe that's what gave me the drive to succeed."