Harold J. "Hal" Hefel

HEFEL, DIX, KEATING, MILES, RAPP, HUSEMANN, GARTNER, FOLK

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 16:47:55

Hoffmann,Schneider and Kitchen Funeral Home obituary

Harold J. "Hal" Hefel, 62, of Dubuque, passed away Friday morning, July 20, 2012 at Finley Hospital, surrounded by his daughter and his family.

Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, with Military Honors accorded by the American Legion Post #6. Friends may greet the family Monday, July 23, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 3860 Asbury Road, Dubuque, where a Order of the Moose service will be held at 6:30 p.m., and a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Hal was born December 10, 1949 in Dubuque, the son of Harold and Lorraine (Dix) Hefel. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1968. Hal served his country in the U.S. Army. On May 27, 1978, Hal married the love of his life, Judy Keating, at Nativity Catholic Church. She preceded him in death on April 30, 1999.

He was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church Hal was employed at John Deere Dubuque Works for 35 years, retiring in 2004. He was an avid golfer, and also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was a good pool shooter. Hal was also a big fan of the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Hal was a member of the U.A.W. Retirees, the American Legion Post # 6, and the Royal Order of the Moose Lodge. Hal's grandchildren were very special to him, and he loved spending time with them. He was a very outgoing and generous person, and always put others before himself.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Brooke (fiancé James Miles) Hefel of Dubuque; two grandchildren, Braelynn and J.P.; his siblings, Dixie (Jerry) Rapp of Dubuque, Richard (Mary Ann) Hefel of Dubuque, Marvin Hefel of Sarasota, FL, Donna (Vern) Husemann of East Dubuque, IL, Eldon (Janet) Hefel of Dubuque, Sr. Laurinda Hefel OSF of Midolothian, IL, Doris (Terry) Gartner of Dubuque, DeLaine (Joe) Gartner of Conway, AR, Dan (Kathy) Hefel of East Dubuque, IL, Russ (Chris) Hefel of Dubuque, and Debbie (Richard) Folk of Tyro, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father in law, Ray and Kathleen Keating; and his sister in law, Eileen Hefel.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Dr. Philip Leeson, Dr. Ron Schope, and the nursing staff at Finley ICU. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Harold J. "Hal" Hefel Memorial Fund.