- Date Of Birth: April 9, 1935
- Date Of Death: September 6, 2022
- State: Wisconsin
John Edward Haefner, 87, passed away Tuesday, Sept 6, 2022 at the home of his daughter while on hospice.
John was born on April 9, 1935 in Wisconsin Rapids to Fritz & Violet (Snyder) Haefner. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953 and the University of Minnesota in 1958. He married the former Joyce Zieher July1,1961 in Iowa. Together they had almost 47 years of marriage until her death in 2008. He worked for Irion Reinke & Assoc Architects, Oshkosh, from 1963 – 1976. While living in Oshkosh he enjoyed singing and was actively involved with the Oshkosh chapter of Barbershoppers (SPEBSQSA), and enjoyed traveling all over the country to Barbershopper conventions with Joyce and their friends.
In 1968 he purchased land on John’s Lake, Wautoma, and designed & built a cottage that is still enjoyed today by his family. The only thing contracted out was the electric wiring & the spiral staircase. Many wonderful memories were made at “Haef’s” with family & friends over the years!
In fall 1976 he joined with Michael Metcalf to form Metcalf Haefner Architects and moved the family back to Wis Rapids. Together they designed many residential and notable commercial properties including MSTC (Rapids, St Point & Marshfield), Member’s Advantage Credit Union, WR Chamber of Commerce, Paper City Savings, Rapids Lumber (which took 2nd place in an International competition for a home center building – 1st place was in Japan), Fey Publishing, the 400 Daly Ave Office Building, Riverview Family Clinic – Nekoosa, Willet Ice Arena – St Point as well as many more in Plover & central WI. His grandson Philip followed in his footsteps, graduating from U of MN & becoming an architect. He continued to sing with Barbershoppers and was also an avid golfer at Lake Arrowhead, which is where he also was thrilled to have scored a hole-in-one! He and Joyce spent many winters in Gulf Shores, AL after retirement. He followed the Packers, Brewers and Badgers and enjoyed watching his grandkids’ theater & sporting events.
He is survived by his daughters Dixie Haefner, Wautoma, and Vickie (Rick) Hess, Wisconsin Rapids; 6 grandchildren: Kyle (Emma) Hess, Plover, Ryan Hess, Madison, Philip Hess & Cody Hess, Minneapolis, Corey Hess, Rochester, MN, and Kaitlyn Hess, Wisconsin Rapids; 2 great-grandchildren: Donald John Hess & Lucy Hess, Plover; 2 sisters: Joan Anderson, Madison, and Barbara Reader, San Diego; Brother-in-law & Sister-in-law Don & Beatie Zieher, Port Edwards; and many nieces & nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Joyce, and brother James.
Special thanks to his sister Joan as well as the ICU & hospice staff at Aspirus Riverview Hospital for their care and compassion.
