Laverne W. “Joe” Heuer, 79, Pittsville, passed away on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at his home in the Town of Dexter, surrounded by his loving family.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pittsville, with Rev. Gary Markworth officiating. Burial will take place in Mound Cemetery, Pittsville and serving as pallbearers will be grandsons, Mark Jankowski, Adam Martinovich, Zach Heuer, Colt Heuer and Clayton Heuer and great grandson, Wyatt Rademan and honorary pallbearers will be Lester Emerson, Gene Winters, Pat Minor, Rick Greene and John Quillico. The visitation will be from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Tuesday at Buchanan / Rembs Funeral Home, Pittsville, and from 9:30 am on Wednesday until service time at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Laverne was born on December 30, 1938 in the Town of Hansen to Waldemar and Clara (Herzberg) Heuer. He grew up on a dairy farm west of Dexterville on Highway 54 with his parents and 3 brothers. He attended school in Veedum and graduated from Pittsville High School in 1956. He married Elaine Becker on December 8, 1956 in Sigel. After marriage, they farmed for a year and then moved to Sherry and Laverne began working at Consolidated Papers. They lived in the Sherry area until 1961 when they moved back to the Pittsville area with their 4 children.
During that time, he also purchased his first D6 Caterpillar and he and his brother began work. He and his brother eventually purchased the family farm from his parents and they moved there with their 5 children. He worked at Consolidated until 1964. He and his brother purchased more earth moving equipment and they sold the dairy cows and began raising beef cattle and also buffalo for a time. The earth moving business became mainly work on building cranberry marshes.
He enjoyed working with so many in the cranberry industry and looked on so many as good friends. They built 3 marshes of their own which now belong to his 3 sons. In 1992 he and Elaine built a new home across the road from the farm, where they currently lived. Since his cancer diagnosis in 2005 his son Bryan has been in charge of Heuer Brothers Construction. Although Joe was involved until the last couple of years.
He loved caterpillar equipment and had a friendly relationship with the local dealers over the years. He and his wife enjoyed many trips, including, New Zealand and Australia and they drove to Alaska twice. Also winter trips to warmer climates, Mexico, Jamaica, St. Thomas and Hawaii. In January, Key West was an annual trip for many years including this last year. For many years the winter trips involved driving to California to visit his aunt and uncle and his brother, Gayle and his wife. From there they would go to visit the oldest granddaughter and her family in Seattle. He especially enjoyed being there and having Jen take him to “Filson” shopping and to Elliots for oysters. He was a little disappointed when they moved back to Plover.
He loved planning trips and events, whether it was for hunting, fishing or family events to the Dells. He was able to go on many elk hunting trips out west with family and friends and the fly fishing trips to Canada were fun for all, always planned by daughter Lori and her husband Bob. The cabin they built “up north” near Three Lakes was always someplace to go. Earlier years were often spent fishing with son-in-law, Mike, until his death in 1997. For many years attending the Hodag in Rhinelander was a must. He just really enjoyed life! His greatest joy in his last years were his great grandchildren. Buying gifts at Christmas (and other times) was one of his joys.
The grandchildren gave him many interesting events, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and weddings. He was so proud of them all. He enjoyed collecting toy caterpillar equipment and had a large collection. He also enjoyed anything western, clothes, boots, jewelry, saddle – everything but the horse, although he had a passion for donkeys. He loved popcorn, breakfast and going for rides on the marsh, checking out how the boys were doing.
He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Elaine, and their children, Lynn Jankowski, Bryan (Bonnie) Heuer, Lori Heuer, Glenn (Becky) Heuer and Kevin (Peggy) Heuer. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Jennifer (Brent) Hartsough, Mark Jankowski, Nikki (Brett) Rademan, Christy (Mike) Klieforth, Chelsey Heuer, Jesirae (Jon) Ruder, Colt (Michele) Heuer, Adam (Gina) Martinovich, Samantha (Kevin) Mlodik, Zach Heuer, and Clayton Heuer and 15 great grandchildren, Garrett, Brooklyn and Addison Hartsough, Wyatt, Grant, Celia Rademan, Dierks, Taylor and Axel Klieforth, Mason and Elsie Heuer, Sawyer and Griffin Martinovich, and Payton and Capri Mlodik. He is further survived by brothers, Melvin (Laurie) Heuer and Gayle Heuer, a brother-in-law, Dave (Lola) Becker, and sisters-in-law, Jean (John) Willfahrt and Wanda Krueger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Waldemar and Clara, a brother, Russell Heuer, his Stepfather, Dan Potts, sons-in-law, Michael Jankowski, Bob Martinovich, a nephew, Bradley Heuer, sisters-in-law, Karen Heuer and Margaret Heuer, and in-laws, Vernon and Fern Becker.
The family wishes to thank the oncology department at Marshfield Clinic, Ascension Home Health Team and the Hospice ladies.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pittsville or to Wisconsin Cranberry Education and Research Foundation.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
