Fred Hafer

Fred Hafer, aged 84, passed away at his home on June 2, 2024 with his wife and family at his side.
Fred was born January 31, 1940 in Milwaukee to parents Fred and Johanna (Heun) Hafer. He was 16 when his dad retired and moved the family to Eagle River, where Fred attended Eagle River Union Free High School, graduating in 1959. At that time he also began working for Satran & Sons Printing, sweeping floors after school. This led to an apprenticeship as a Printer-Compositor which he completed in 1966. He was employed by Satran & Sons, later Satran Lithographers and the Vilas County News Review. For a time, he worked simultaneously at Wisconsin Michigan Publishers. He then moved on to Hahn Printing and worked for them until his retirement. In the latter part of the 70's he purchased printing equipment from a defunct operation in Iron River, Michigan and set up shop in his basement for several years, printing such things as letterhead, business cards and restaurant menus. If you ate at the Persian Paradise during this time, you were probably holding a piece of his handiwork as you placed your order. In all, his career in printing spanned 51 years.
On an evening when the weather was fine, Fred met a girl named Barb Ayers and decided he'd take her out on a date the following Saturday. She declined, but he showed up anyway and the couple had their first date at the White Stag in Sugar Camp. They were married on February 2, 1963 - the beginning of a marriage that lasted over 61 years.
Fred had many talents and interests. He was a hobby farmer, growing hay and alfalfa and raising animals that could sometimes be unruly. The younger generations enjoy hearing about the many antics of his three pigs or when the cows decided to take a vacation to Phelps. He named some of his first cattle after the Seven Dwarfs.
Fred enjoyed being creative and working with his hands. He was always busy doing something, whether it be crafting child sized chairs for the grandchildren, or music stands as they grew older and learned to play band instruments. He was always ready to lend a hand and his expertise for any home improvement project his family had going.
Appreciating the outdoors, Fred often took the family for outings in the woods, having fun and teaching them about the land, and the trees and plants that grew there. His keen eyes could be relied upon to spot four-leafed clovers and old railroad grades. Camping and traveling were also a passion, and he explored much of the U.S. and parts of Canada with his wife and family.
Devoted to his family, he enjoyed watching it grow as his children married and started families of their own. He always had a smile for everyone. His kindness, a helping hand and love of life was generously shared with all.
Fred is survived by his wife Barbara, his brothers Ralph (Gloria) Heun of New Berlin, WI and Tony (Cathy) Hafer of Phelps, WI; four children: Yon (Sarah) Hafer, Michelle (Don) Harder, Brenda (Jim) Renberg, and Peter (Debra) Hafer; nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marie Hafer.
The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Yasar and the rest of the staff at Marshfield Clinic for their care over the years. The family is also grateful to the staff of Compassus for their gentle care in the last weeks of his illness.
A memorial service will be at 11am on Saturday June 22, 2024 at St. Kunegunda Catholic Church in Sugar Camp, WI. Visitation will be held from 9:30am till time of service.