Obituary: Gary A. Bley

Oct. 31, 1943 – April 19, 2021 

Gary A. Bley, 77, of the Town of Jacksonport, died at his home after an apparent heart attack.

He was born in Sturgeon Bay to Wallace and LaVerne (Weitermann) Bley. Gary graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1961. On Sept. 5, 1964, he married Patricia Henschel at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Valmy. 

He owned and operated his own dairy farm in the Town of Jacksonport. His farm was generational through his mom’s Weitermann family. Gary loved anything to do with farming and driving a tractor. As the milk cows were sold, Gary drove a truck for Land O’ Lakes.

Having been raised around horses, Gary raised Belgian draft horses, working with them in the woods and in the fields of the farm. When his horses needed to work at something other than farming or logging, Gary would give sleigh rides to the locals around Jacksonport to keep them active. 

Gary was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport.

Survivors include his wife, Pat; five children, Heidi (Mike) Haberli, Shelly (Darin) DeFere, Connie (Kevin) Kesler, Missy (Gary) Dunks, Tim (Heather) Bley; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, Katie (Mike) White (their children, Bailey, Ethan, Brenna and Charlotte), Robert (Mallory) Haberli (their children, Chloe, Lacy, Brynlee), Tony (Becca) Haberli (their children, Eli and Nora), Mandy Haberli, Cara (Todd) Rassmusson (and their children, Chase, Cooper, Skylar), Barbara Jean Haberli (fiancé, Riley Bricco); Nicole DeFere (fiancé, Mike Haas), Travis DeFere, Zack (Erika) DeFere, Justin (Jena) DeFere (their child, Cora); Jordan and Dylan Kesler; Chyna Dunks; Emily, Hannah, Logan, Lily Bley; brother, Wayne (Paula) Bley. 

Preceding him in death are his parents, and brother, Eugene.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 24, 1 pm, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport, with Rev. Peter Lindemann officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church April 24, 10 am – 12:45 pm. 

Huehns Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Sign the online guestbook and offer condolences at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.