Patrick Heinritz

Patrick Mark Heinritz, age 60, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at home on Friday, November 10, 2017.

Born July 22, 1957, Pat was the 12th of 18 children born to Marie and Carl Heinritz and, as Pat always pointed out, "the 7th son". Pat attended Appleton East High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a B.A. in journalism. He was a passionate supporter of the University of Wisconsin and worked there more than 35 years. Pat started as a payroll and benefits assistant, was departmental administrative head of two departments and retired as a valued team member of a large multi-city research consortium studying inner city asthma, for which he was the Director of the Administrative Center. Being Administrator of this consortium provided him immense professional and personal satisfaction. Pat earned the " Distinguished" title from the university in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, which is given to only a select few.

Pat was an avid sportsman, and enjoyed sharing his passion for Brewers baseball, as well as Packers and Badgers football. He was the "Alpha-Male" golfer in a family of 10 boys. His uncanny knack for cozying up a difficult chip shot, or sinking a long, clutch putt to win the match "drove his brothers to drink". On the water, Pat was a master at enticing fish to bite using his hand-tied "Killer Jigs", which the walleyes, panfish and bass were helpless to resist. Sitting in the boat right before sunset- he called that time "The Red Hour"- catching fish, listening to the Brewers on the radio, laughing and enjoying a beer with his brothers. That was about as good as life gets.

In 1994, he met his wife, Cindy, helping to recruit her from New York City to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a faculty position. Who knew that her university start-up-package would include a future husband! He embraced fatherhood at the age of 47 with the birth of their daughter, Anne. He was a devoted father, and nothing gave him more joy than being her Dad. From swim meets, soccer games and piano recitals to Rolling Stones concerts and traveling, he loved being with her and cheering her on.

Pat lived a beautiful life and lived it to the fullest. He took great pride in everything he did. Whether he was playing golf, working on a grant proposal or working in the garden, he gave it 100 percent. Family was everything and nothing was better than sitting on the deck of the lake house overlooking Big Silver Lake with his family by his side.

Pat is survived by his beloved wife and daughter, Cindy and Anne Czajkowski (Madison, WI) and by his siblings: Sr. Joann Heinritz Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Berkeley, CA), John (Agnes) Heinritz (Santa Fe, NM), Janet (Tom) Canterbury (Los Angeles, CA), James (Mary) Heinritz (Salt Lake City, UT), Frances Collins (Minocqua, WI), Nicholas (Mary) Heinritz (Appleton, WI), Barbara (Jim) Bayer (Appleton, WI), Carl (Cheri) Heinritz (Appleton, WI), Joseph (Cindy) Heinritz (Weston, WI), Peter (Deborah) Heinritz (Kaukauna, WI), Therese McCarthy (Scottsdale, AZ), Claire (Robert) Wolstein (Templeton, CA), Paul (Christine) Heinritz (Fountain Hills, AZ), Mark (Melinda) Heinritz (Madison, WI) and Cindy (Michael) Maxam (Appleton, WI). He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Jean Czajkowski (Westhampton Beach, NY) and sister-in-laws: Laura Czajkowski (Gail Murdoch) (Salt Lake City, UT) and Christine Czajkowski (Steve Jensen) (Westhampton Beach, NY) and by numerous nephews and nieces. Pat was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Marie Heinritz; his sister, Marie Heinritz; his brother, Tom Heinritz and his father-in-law, Eugene Czajkowski.

A celebration of Pat's life will take place Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Rd, Madison, WI 53705 ,on Thursday November 16, 2017 at 2:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the UW-Carbonne Cancer Center- Head and Neck Cancer General Fund (uwhealth.org/donateuwccc) to honor Patrick M. Heinritz.

Cress Funeral Service
3610 Speedway Road
Madison, WI 53705
608-238-3434