Dwight Mark Heaney

     Dwight Mark Heaney of Fort Atkinson passed away at Rainbow Hospice in Johnson Creek on May 18, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with neuroendocrine cancer. He was born on June 30, 1959, in suburban Chicago.

     After graduating in 1977 from Bradley Bourbonnais High School in Bradley, IL, Dwight served in the US Navy from 1977-1981 as a Fire Control Missile Technician. During his 4 years in the Navy, Dwight traveled three quarters of the way around the world with stops in many Asian and Mediterranean countries. After leaving the Navy, Dwight attended Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN and graduated in 1985 with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Sociology. Dwight found his professional calling in fundraising and worked for 30 years in various leadership roles for several social services agencies and non-profit hospital systems. During his tenure as a fundraiser, Dwight raised nearly $150 million and had the pleasure of meeting many famous athletes, performers and business owners. Dwight retired in 2020 after seven years as the Executive Director of the Fort Healthcare Foundation.

     In his youth, Dwight spent many summers in southern Minnesota with his beloved grandparents Robert & Malinda Heaney, his godparents Aunt Mary & Uncle Ralph Heaney and the “Minnesota Cousins.” Those summers spent on the family farm in rural Minnesota were some of his fondest memories and were the source of many childhood stories he loved to share. He also enjoyed spending time in the summer camping with Aunt Bev and Uncle Dennis Heaney. They nurtured his lifelong interest in gardening and cooking. Later in life, cherished times were had at the New Year family gatherings in their Illinois home playing games and eating Dennis’s wonderful homemade peppermint ice cream.

     In the summer of 1990, while living in Oconomowoc, Dwight met Beth Grosenick from Lebanon. She quickly became his best friend. They were married on August 15th, 1992, in Oconomowoc. Dwight’s career in fundraising provided them with the opportunity to live in seven different states (WI, MN, TX, TN, MO, OR, IL and back to WI). Together they enjoyed exploring the beauty and culture of each place. He and Beth loved to travel. Dwight was an expert trip planner, always finding unique and special places to stay, eat and explore. Their adventures together included visiting national parks, lighthouses, waterfalls and state capitols. They also enjoyed trying different fine dining restaurants, cooking, gardening, canning pickles & tomatoes and making pesto with ingredients from their garden. Some of their most special times together were spent going on long walks and having good conversations on the deck while enjoying the backyard landscaping and birds that came to their feeders. These quiet times at home with Beth gave Dwight the most happiness.

     After moving back to Wisconsin and settling in Fort Atkinson, Dwight felt like he had found a place he could call home and that he was truly part of a community. He was fortunate to make many new friends with a variety of interests and wanted you all to know that the time he spent with you meant a lot to him.

     Dwight was a man of many interests and passions. He loved music of all kinds. Having grown up with a mother who was a music teacher, it goes without saying that Dwight would have a strong interest in music. In high school, he played the Trombone and was a part of the marching band, jazz band, concert band, pep band and orchestra. There was barely a sport that Dwight did not enjoy playing or watching. In retirement, he loved to golf with his friends. Fishing was a favorite pastime for most of his life. One of his best fishing stories was catching a 46” Northern Pike on his fly rod in Canada. He was an avid Badger fan and was especially fond of the Badger women’s volleyball team. Being at the match when they finally beat Nebraska to win the conference championship was exhilarating! However, being from IL, Dwight was a true Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls fan, but his favorite team of all was the Chicago Cubs (Go Cubs Go!). He felt so fortunate to have seen them win the World Series during his lifetime.

     Every fall he looked forward to being the “clip man” on the UW Whitewater Football Team Chain Gang. He was so grateful that the “Jefferson Guys” invited him to be the token “Fort Guy” on “the Gang.” Horse racing was yet another enjoyable pastime. Dwight never missed watching a triple crown race and would often spend time on Saturday afternoons placing bets on the “ponies” in the significant races leading up to the Derby. One of Dwight’s fondest memories was being at Keeneland with Beth when American Pharoah won the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Dwight also loved to go hiking and bird watching. He set a personal goal of hiking in every state park in WI. He only had 15 to go before he passed.

     Dwight was adventurous and loved a challenge. He once rode his bike by himself from Minneapolis to Chicago. One summer while in college, Dwight went with a group to Hong Kong where he taught English to grade school students in a Vietnamese refugee camp. And just a few years ago, he decided to go sky diving and made 2 successful jumps.

     Volunteerism and giving back were of the utmost importance to Dwight. As a member of Rotary International, he expressed humanitarian values as the heart of his spiritual life. He truly embodied the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.” As a charter member of the Changemakers virtual club and an active participant in the Lake Mills After Hours Club, Dwight often used his personal time volunteering for many important and fulfilling causes. He was also an incredibly generous man contributing financially to a wide variety of charities.

     Dwight lived his life of 65 years with much curiosity, adventure and a strong sense urgency, never putting things off until “someday.” Perhaps he intuitively knew his life would be cut short.

     Dwight is survived by his best friend and spouse, Beth Heaney; his mother Marjory (Heaney) Corbet; his mother-in-law Jean Grosenick; his siblings Christine (Darrel) Standley and Royce (Kathy) Heaney; extended family; and the friends that made his life so enjoyable. He is preceded in death by his father, Pastor Kenneth Heaney; his father-in-law Max Grosenick; paternal grandparents, Robert and Malinda Heaney; and maternal grandparents, Hubert and Cecil Gross.

     Dwight wanted to share one of his favorite quotes with all who read this: “The purpose of life is to be happy.” (Dalai Lama) Please don’t be sad about his passing, just be happy that you knew him and enjoyed being with him.

     Beth and Dwight would like to extend their sincere gratitude and special thanks to the following healthcare providers for their expert care and support: Dr. Jennifer Winter & Sarah Spack, NA at Integrated Family Care in Fort Atkinson and dear friend and chiropractor Dr. Randy Leanna. Additionally, Beth and Dwight want to acknowledge the loving and caring staff at Rainbow Hospice and his in-home care team Hannah and Leslie for their efforts in making Dwight’s final days as comfortable as possible.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 1st, at Nitardy Funeral Home 1008 Madison Ave. Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 3:00 PM followed by a memorial service.

If desired, memorial contributions can be made to:

      1.) The Rotary Foundation at: 

https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/ways-to-give 

      2.) UW Whitewater Football at: https://uwwsports.com/sports/2020/9/17/support-warhawk-athletics.aspx 

     *Please put in memory of Dwight Heaney in the notes section. The money raised will go towards the purchase of new down and distance makers for the Warhawk football program.