Heimerl, Richard "Rich" Franklin

Richard "Rich" Franklin Heimerl passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family, Friday, March 27, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Rich married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl (Kelly), in 1978, and together they built a life filled with family, friends, faith, and community. They raised their three children in LaCrosse before later moving to Portage, Wisconsin, where Rich became deeply involved in the community. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping, and hosting deer camp and wood-cutting weekends with family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Cheryl; his children Nicole (Matt Briant) Heimerl, Cortney (Andrew Menchal) Heimerl, and Kyle (Casey) Heimerl; his grandchildren Kellyn, Josephine, Macyn, Jamison, Abraham, Vivian, and Evelyn; his mother, Darlene Heimerl; his mother-in-law, Carol (William) Fitzgerald; his siblings Mary (Marcus) Butts; Elizabeth (Jeff Ladd) Heimerl, Patricia (Nathan) Czech, and Phillip (Kathryn) Heimerl. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard W. Heimerl and his father-in-law Glenn Kelly.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, April 13 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Portage. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Mass at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic School. Online condolences may be made at www.grassefs.com. Grasse Funeral Service in Pardeeville is serving the family.