Agnes Regina (Schicke) Hille

Agnes Regina (Schicke) Hille died February 18, 2026 at the Catholic Care Center in Wichita, KS, where she had been a resident of the memory care unit for the past two and a half years.

Regina was born August 2, 1932 to Joseph and Agnes (Maher) Schicke in Independence, KS. She grew up on the family farm in Sycamore Valley, attended St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Independence through 8th grade and high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Wichita, KS. She received her Bachelor of Music in piano from Marymount College in Salina, KS. After college, she returned to Independence and began working for Hille Music Co. For over seven decades, Regina taught countless piano and organ students in Independence, through the music store, at Independence Community College, and in her private studio.

On December 30, 1969 she married Robert W Hille. They had one child, Bridget.

For most of her life Regina was the organist and choir director at her home parish, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, and in 1981, she also became the organist at her husband’s church, First Presbyterian, where Bob was the choir director. In 2005, they were honored by the church for their many years of service to the music program. Regina was on the Fine Arts faculty at Independence Community College, retiring in 1997 after 30 years of teaching, although she continued in an adjunct capacity for many years beyond her retirement.

Even though she began playing the organ while in school to help supply music for mass, it wasn’t until much later in her adult life that she found a passion for the organ and its literature. She studied for many years with Dr. Wallace Dunn in Wichita, KS, traveling there for lessons twice a month, and in 1990 received a Master of Music in organ and church music from Friends University in Wichita. She frequently gave recitals on the magnificent Reuter organ at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence.

In 2017, Regina retired from private teaching and her church jobs and moved to Wichita to be near her daughter and son-in-law, settling in Shepherd’s Crossing on the Catholic Care Center campus.

Regina loved to entertain and took great pride in having a beautifully decorated home and garden. She was especially fond of roses and daylilies.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Ida Council. Survivors are her daughter, Bridget Hille (Dean Roush) of Wichita, KS; niece, Elizabeth Council-Phelan (Vincent) of Cincinnati, OH; nephew, Brian Council of Emporia, KS; niece, Jennifer Ozier (Tom) of Baldwin, KS; and several great nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be at 12:30 pm, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Chapel at Catholic Care Center. Graveside Service will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, KS.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.