Gary A. Bley, 77, of Hwy. 57, Town of Jacksonport, died Monday morning, April 19, 2021 at his home after suffering an apparent heart attack.
He was born October 31, 1943 in Sturgeon Bay, the son of the late Wallace and LaVerne (Weitermann) Bley. Gary graduated from Sevastopol High School in 1961. On September 5, 1964 he married Patricia Henschel at St. John Ev. 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 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 Ev. 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; sisters-in-law, Virginia Utter, Helen Henschel and Judy (Don) DeJardin; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death are his parents; brother, Eugene Bley; and brothers-in-law, Eugene Utter and Roger Henschel.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in West Jacksonport with Rev. Peter Lindeman officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
Friends may call at the church Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
Huehns Funeral Home is assisting the Bley family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gary may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
