Patrick J. Hefling

Patrick J. Hefling, age 81, of Tomahawk, WI, was surrounded by family when he passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Unity Hospice in De Pere, WI. He was born on February 8, 1943, in Sheboygan Falls, WI, to the late Giles and Genevieve (McClone) Hefling.
Pat grew up as the second youngest of five. He was blessed with a loving family including many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Pat graduated from SFHS in 1961 & joined the Navy. He proudly served with the Sea Bees as an electrician on the Aleutian Islands, after returning from service he attended DeVry Technical School and began a long career with IBM. At a conference in Rochester, MN, he met a young lady celebrating her 21st birthday with her Parents. He asked her to dance, and the rest is history. Pat married Annette K. Stier on November 2, 1968. They lived in Chicago, IL, for a short time, then moved to Green Bay, WI. Together, Pat and Annette raised four children. As the family grew, new opportunities relocated them to Wausau, WI. After early retirement, they found their beloved home on Deer Lake in Tomahawk.
Pat and Annette enjoyed traveling; Pat especially liked a good road trip. He drove his family to numerous places, a highlight being Colorado for epic ski trips and to visit family. They also took two memorable trips to Ireland. After spending time in Mesa, AZ, they were excited to become snowbirds and split the year between Arizona and Wisconsin.
Pat loved hunting, fishing, golfing, shooting trap, playing cards, bowling, down-hill skiing, and teaching his kids about his favorite pastimes. He was also Cub Scout Master for all his boys. He appreciated well written books mostly about military heroes and battles, movies (westerns probably the favorite), and classic country, oldies, and Irish folk music. Sports also topped his list of interests: he loved the Badgers, Brewers, and the Pack. He himself enjoyed playing basketball, in his younger days with his sons and neighbors in the driveway and into his 70s, playing games at the gym with friends and any young guys brave enough. He often hiked in Arizona as well, arduously huffing it up Superstition Mountain on his 70th birthday.
Most of all, Pat loved people and could make friends anywhere; yet his siblings, in-laws, cousins, and co-workers were some of his best friends. Pat especially loved being a grandpa to nine grandchildren. He poured his love on them by spending time with them fishing, playing cards, swimming, on boat rides, making breakfast, telling stories and jokes, or singing songs around the campfire. He was willing to do goofy things to make them laugh along with him and made their education a priority.
Pat and Annette both were the most generous and fun-loving parents, and they were wise. One of the most important things to them was leaving their family a legacy. And they have: they taught us to love each other even when we don't see the world in the same way, to be there for each other in times of struggle and to be generous with one another. Thank you, Mom & Dad. We will strive to make you proud and keep the fire burning at the Lake.
Survivors include his children, Stephen (Lisa) Hefling, Nicholas (Susan) Hefling, Andrea (Matt) Hornick, and Ryan (Lonna) Hefling; his siblings, Suzi (Jim) Mattek, and Dick (Peg) Hefling; his in-laws, Mark (Terri) Stier, Terrance (Lisa) Stier, Leslie (Chery) Stier, James (Randi) Stier, Connie (Frank) Mignone, Pamela (Craig) Stacy, and Patricia Stier. He is further survived by his nine grandchildren, Sidney, Lily, Ashlyn, Nathan, Abigail, Connor, Amelia, Samantha, and Kate. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annette; his parents, Giles and Genevieve; his father and mother-in-law, Phil and Vernice (Simenson) Stier; his sister, Kaylene (Hefling) Altmeyer and her husband, James Altmeyer; his sister, Joan (Hefling) Schuffner and her husband, Marv Schuffner; and his brother-in-law, Stephen Stier.
Memorial services for Patrick Hefling will be held on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 3:00 PM, at Generations Funeral Home located at 1400 N. 4th Street in Tomahawk. Rev. Larry Mathein will officiate. The family will receive friends for visitation from 1:00 PM until the time of services at 3:00 PM. Generations Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675.