Gary Leigh Hasheider

Gary Leigh Hasheider, age 80, of North Freedom, passed away peacefully after a short and courageous battle with Pancreatic cancer on March 19, 2026 at William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Gary was born August 10, 1945 to Lowell and Rose (Wilhelm) Hasheider.

While growing up he was an active member of the Baraboo High School FFA, serving as President, Secretary, and Treasure. He also ran track when he wasn’t busy helping on the farm. He graduated from Baraboo High School in 1963. After graduation, he stayed home to help his dad farm. He also worked with a neighbor, Ted Herwig. Ted was a major influence in his life. He was a forward thinker, and he always had better crops than everyone else. He told Gary to be smart and study agriculture. Gary had many memories of cutting wood with the draft horses, taking care of cows, and fishing in the Baraboo River.

In 1967, following his 2 older brother’s footsteps, Gary enlisted into the United States Air Force. His training started at Port Hueneme, California where he was trained in heating, repairing boilers, ventilation, and air conditioning; skills he would carry for the rest of his life. Later in1967, he was stationed at Grand Forks Air Base with the 319^th Civil Engineering Squadron where he received radar bomb scoring training. He conducted missions with B-52 Stratofortresses, a long-range strategic bomber and Convair B-58 Hustlers, a supersonic strategic bomber. He would jam them with electronics and munitions. After his training, he was sent to Cozad, Nebraska and Gould, Arkansas to use his newfound skills. After his time one the train, he went back to Grand Forks to process out to Suwon Air Base in South Korea with the 6170^th Combat Support Group. During his time in Korea, he spent time among the Korean community but especially with a group of kids living in an orphanage. Some of his fondest memories were of taking the kids on rides in the Jeep. One of the kids was so amazed at the windshield wipers- he couldn’t get enough of squirting water on the windshield. The girls decorated the Jeep with flowers, stuffing them into every crack they could find. One day, his Major asked him to go to a Korean church that was having boiler problems. The church was quite an event, because he had all of these local people watching him work- they liked him very much, and it was his favorite place that he had been. Little did he know, that several years later he and Eileen would adopt their daughter from South Korea.

After returning from Korea, he was sent to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and was assigned to Field Two with the 557^th Red Horse Squadron. Red Horse was a rapid engineering and construction unit. He was honorably discharged from Elgin Air Force Base in 1971.

Gary met the love of his life, Eileen (Bauer) while they were both working at Madison General Hospital. “I would walk through the hospital doing my work, and she kept smiling at me when I passed her desk. She would wink at me, and then I would wink back.”  The rest is history and they were united in marriage on September 14, 1974.

In 1980, Gary’s love for farming called him back to North Freedom where he purchased the family farm from his dad. He took great pride in his farm raising Shorthorn cattle, caring for the last of his dad’s draft horses, growing crops, and raising his family on the farm he grew up on. After purchasing the farm, Gary continued to use his skills from the Air Force while he worked for the Baraboo School District for 10 years and St. Clare Hospital for 25 years as an HVAC.

Gary could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere he went, about anything. His family always joked that he should be a Walmart greeter when he retires- but no one would get any shopping done! He loved history- he had a passion to learn as much as possible from family history to World History. He was always reading something- from books on Sauk County history, farm reports, politics, local news, consumer reports, and whatever his kids and grandkids had interest in. His sons and daughter were his pride and joy. He was at all the sporting events, recitals, concerts, and graduations. He lived vicariously through the different travel adventures each went on. He gave each the tools needed to ensure they were successful in anything they did.

After retirement, Gary continued to farm until the last couple weeks of his life. He enjoyed taking vacations with Eileen, going to antique shops looking for; old post cards, pulleys, and just about anything else. He loved to take his dog Gracie on car rides, even if it meant just running to Rock Springs to the Co-op. His grandkids meant the world to him. He enjoyed attending their sporting events, visiting them, and introducing them to his own hobbies. For his 80^th birthday, he was able to finally take the entire family on a horse ride through Lost Canyon- his dad sold horses to them many years ago.

One of his longtime neighbors recently said, “Some people leave a quiet mark on your life. Gary was one of those people. He was a hardworking farmer, devoted husband and father. A proud grandpa/papa. He was kind and generous, but also firm when he needed to be. Farmers spend their whole lives planting seeds. Seeds in the soil that grow into harvest. But sometimes they plant seeds in people too- seeds of kindness, faith, hard work, and quiet strength, Gary planted a lot of those seeds. And I know they will keep growing in the lives of everyone who knew him. And the beautiful thing about the seeds planted in faith is that they don’t end with this life, they grow straight into eternity.”

Gary will be missed by so many. He touched the lives of so many. He was taken too soon but his family will hold tight to the values he shared, memories made, and love he shared.

Gary is survived by his wife, Eileen; his children, Ryan (Heather) Hasheider of Baraboo, Rachel (Brandon) Labeots of West Salem, and Ross (Rachel) of Baraboo; grandchildren, Gavin, Owen, Carson, Olivia, and Penelope; his beloved dog, Gracie; brothers, William Hashieder of Shreveport, LA, and Paul (Crystal) Hasheider of Baraboo; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Rose (Wilhelm) Hasheider; parents-in-law, L. Norbert and Rita (Feiner) Bauer; sister- in law, Patricia Hashieder; brother-in-law, James Blau; as well as nephews, Lowell Hashieder, and Todd Blau.

Funeral services will be held at Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11am with Pastor Blake Overlien officiating. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 4-6pm, as well as 10am until the time of the service on Thursday. Burial will follow at Rock Hill Cemetery with Military Honors.

The family would like to thank all the staff at William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital for taking such excellent care of dad in his final days.

In lieu of flowers and sprit of Gary’s giving nature, please make a donation to Kids’ Ranch, St. Joseph’s School in Baraboo, Baraboo High School FFA, or your local Veteran’s community.