Daniel J. Hegeman, 64, of Whitewater, passed away on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Alden Estates of Jefferson.
Dan was born on December 20, 1958 in Burlington, son of Glen and Katherine (Gal) Hegeman. On May 14, 1983 he married Deborah Weber.
Dan enjoyed spending time with his family and grandkids, the evidence of this was the biggest smile with a twinkle in his eye and a chest so choked up with emotion every chance he was able to visit, that you could feel it across the room. He loved theater, especially Shakespeare’s Hamlet which he had memorized, giving his family impromptu performances of the famous soliloquy throughout the years. He passed on a love of theater while assisting with set design on several plays with his older kids. He was a graduate of Milwaukee School of Engineering with an Associate of Applied Science, Electrical Communications Engineering Technology 1979 & Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering Technology (With Honors) 1986. He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, teaching confirmation classes, being involved with the Knights of Columbus and assisting with timekeeping for pinewood derby races. He also enjoyed conversing about politics and engineering, old books, watching tractor pulls, and helping children at the Math Olympiads and with various 4-H activities. He enjoyed traveling when work called for it. Trips to Finland & Germany were some he liked to talk about. He would talk about meeting a relative on a flight to Germany at one point, which seemed to be a highlight, while also making it clear that he had never met a stranger, he would talk to anyone- as long as it wasn’t over a telephone! As someone who worked with technology most of his life, he had a love of history and old books. He could often be found in the garage with his records or basement room surrounded by dusty papers that remained, much to the chagrin of his wife. Growing up on a dairy farm, he never quite left that part of his life go, he was a hard worker & if you were ever in the car with him when driving by a field of escaping cattle, you knew you were going to be either sitting and watching him put them back in, or getting out to go help with putting them back in. Life is never easy, and he had his share of sorrow as well as mistakes, but he was dearly loved, and his loss will be felt deeply in many ways by his family and friends.
Dan is survived by his wife of 40 years, Debbie Hegeman; children, Katherine (Ryan) Wermes, Lisa (Daniel) Williams, Andrew Hegeman, Peter (Kelsey) Hegeman, Simon (Lauren) Hegeman, Anna Hegeman, Christopher Hegeman, Mary Hegeman and David Hegeman; grandchildren, Emmaleigh and Owen Wermes, Perpetua, Matthias, Azalea and Damien Williams; Lillian and Paisley Hegeman, and Thomas, Elizabeth, Kylina and Giuseppe Hegeman; mother, Katherine Hegeman; siblings, Sue (Mike) Patrick, Bill (Becky) Hegeman, Sally (Kevin Kramer) Epping, Matt (Debbie) Hegeman, Peggy Sawasky and Sandra Hegeman and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his children, Matthias and Teresa Hegeman, father, Glen Hegeman and brother, Larry Hegeman.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. on Thursday at the church until the time of service. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kansasville, WI on Friday, October 20, 2023 at 11 a.m.
Dunlap Memorial Home in Fort Atkinson is assisting the family.
Daniel J. Hegeman
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