Annette K. Hefling

Annette K. Hefling, age 77, of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Annette was born on April 13, 1946, in Rochester, Minnesota, to the late Phillip and Vernice (Simonson) Stier.
Grand Meadow, Minnesota, was home to the family farm where she grew up with her parents and eight younger siblings. Hard work and caring for others came naturally to her. After high school, Annette studied nursing and became an LPN. At age 21, she met Patrick Hefling, the love of her life. They married on November 2, 1968. They had four children together, so we know a nursing background didn't go to waste. As the family grew, they lived in Chicago for a short time before moving to Green Bay, relocating to Wausau, and finally landing in Tomahawk.
Annette was a talented bowler, belonging to several leagues. Even while pregnant, she had the highest women's average. Years later, she graduated from the New York School of Design and joined a friend in their own Interior Decorating business, Distinctive Designs, of which she later was sole proprietor. A listening ear, a loving embrace, and a sincere desire to help others made Annette the wonderful woman we all knew and loved. Life on the lake in Tomahawk was a dream come true and she cherished family gatherings at home. In it Pat and Annette created a magical place for the grandkids to grow and bond to them and each other. Annette's "must-have item" was her pontoon, The Lucky Lady. She hosted "cocktail cruises" on the lake and made frequent trips with loved ones to the Windmill Ice Cream Shop. And then there was the infamous "Pontoon Monsoon" of 2019.
Travel adventures took the family to Colorado for ski trips and many jaunts to visit family. Later, Pat and Annette visited Ireland and eventually lived part- time in Arizona making many great friends. Various nightly rituals through those years were the Pinochle games with Annette's parents, Phil & Annette vs. Vernice & Pat and later Annette vs. Pat in Cribbage. Annette was grateful for the time she was able to spend with and care for her own parents while living in Arizona. Daily trips to the pool, dinner gatherings with friends and park socials were also a must.
Annette spent countless hours in her flower gardens and simply enjoyed being outdoors. Another joy of hers was gathering or talking on the phone with her girlfriends or sisters, sharing and laughing for hours. Annette was generous, especially with her children, helping them move hither and yon, decorate, landscape, paint, clean, cook, watch kids and give money when there were hard times. While relaxing, she worked on puzzles and crosswords, played cards and watched crime and court shows. Her favorite was Judge Judy.
Her family and friends meant the world to her and she will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors include her loving husband, Patrick Hefling; her children, Stephen (Lisa) Hefling, Nicholas (Susan) Hefling, Andrea (Matt) Hornick, and Ryan (Lonna) Hefling; her brothers, Mark, Terrance, Leslie, and James Stier; and her sisters, Connie Mignone, Pamela Stacy, and Patricia Stier. She is further survived by her nine grandchildren: Sidney, Lily, Ashlyn, Nathan, Abigail, Connor, Amelia, Samantha and Kate, whom she cherished. She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Vernice; and her brother, Stephen Stier.
Memorial services for Annette Hefling will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023, at Generations Funeral Home at 2:00 PM. Rev. Larry Mathein will officiate. The family will receive friends for visitation from 12:00 PM until the time of services at 2:00 PM. Generations Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).