Jeff A. Hertz

Jeffrey Allen Hertz, of Wausau, passed away at Primrose Silver Lace Memory Care on June 4, 2025, of complications from Parkinsons. He was born to the late Robert and Elaine Hertz on September 24, 1952. He was 72 years old.

Jeff graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School in 1978. For 36 ½ years, Jeff arrived at his law office at Mallery and Zimmerman promptly at 8:00 a.m. and did not leave before 6:00 p.m. He was recognized by his peers as the Best Family Law Lawyer in Marathon County and was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America. More importantly he was deeply respected by the local bench and bar for his advocacy, his calm demeanor, and his integrity. He was deeply devoted to his clients and served them at the most difficult times in their lives with competence, compassion, and calm. He loved his work with adoptions and made over 300 adoptions possible. He made lasting friendships with his staff and fellow lawyers at the firm. Even though his memory had faded, he often litigated imaginary divorce cases at Primrose memory care. Staff there were frequently instructed to assemble evidence for a case or take a memo. The staff at Primrose kindly set up an area where Jeff could do his legal work at a desk with a binder of legal documents.

Jeffrey served on the Board of Family Counseling Service of Wausau. He provided free legal services to Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Victim Services and to Women’s Community, Inc. He was an ambassador with the Wausau Area Chamber of Commerce. He worked on fund drives for United Way of Marathon County and the Performing Arts Foundation. He enjoyed serving his Wausau community, where he resided his entire life.

Work hard and play hard was a lesson Jeff learned from his parents. Jeff played hard to the point where some would say it was an obsession. In the year he married Shelley, he ran four marathons. He downhill skied, cross country skied and water skied. He water skied on Lake Tomahawk, where he had grown up during the summers of his childhood. He skied the Birkebeiner ten years in a row. He loved sailing, kayaking and had a rowing shell. He mountain biked countless miles. He was frequently seen downhill skiing at Rib Mountain where he began skiing at the age of four. He broke his leg there at age six, and his mom, Elaine, told him to get up and ski it off! He cherished his trips to ski out west with his family and his college friend, Dana. He played tennis, and later pickleball. In his neighborhood, he was nicknamed “The Dog Walker” for his every morning walks to Bluegill Bay Park with their dog. He knew every dog and every dog owner in the neighborhood.

He also loved to snowshoe. On one foggy December afternoon, he led family members on a snowshoe expedition over Rib Mountain, which he said he knew “like the back of his hand.” Eventually the police were called to help locate the lost expeditioners.

Shelley was his love and they were married for 40 years. They loved raising their two children Megan and Patrick. He decided to retire from his law practice earlier than planned, at the age of 62, because the Parkinsons was preventing him from giving his very best to his clients. He and Shelley had several years to enjoy their condo on Marco Island where they enjoyed the beach, pickleball, kayaking and more. He enjoyed driving around Marco Island in his Mazda Miata which was a rare splurge for him. He also loved his home on the shore of Lake Wausau, where he lived for over 36 years.

Jeffrey is proceeded in death by his parents, Robert and Elaine Hertz and his brother, Randy, who died when Jeff was eight years old. He is survived by his wife, Shelley Hertz; his son, Patrick (Lori Solem) of Driggs, Idaho; his daughter, Megan (Zach) of Chaska, Minnesota; and by his beautiful grandchildren, Griffin (age 11), Leo (age 9) and Mabel (age 5). He is also survived by his brother, Bob (Leslie) of Racine and Minocqua; John (Lynn Wilson) of Eau Claire and Michael of Perth, Australia.

Jeff’s family wishes to thank the wonderful staffs at Aspirus Hospice Services and Primrose Memory Care for their kind and exceptionally compassionate care.

A celebration of life will take place at First Presbyterian Church 406 Grant St, Wausau, WI . Visitation starts at 10am followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 13. A reception will follow at the historic chalet at Granite Peak in Rib Mountain.

The family requests that any memorial gifts be directed to

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Grand Central Station P.O. Box 4777

New York, NY 10163 US. donations@michaeljfox.org