Todd “Willard” Heezen Obituary —Some people leave a mark you can point to on a wall. Others leave one on your heart, and you carry it with you everywhere you go. Todd “Willard” Heezen was that second kind of person. On April 25th, 2026, the community of Denmark, Wisconsin lost one of its own — a man of 41 years who packed more living, loving, and working into his life than most people manage in twice that time. If you’re searching for the Todd Heezen Denmark Wisconsin obituary, this is a full tribute to his life, his legacy, and the family he leaves behind.
Who Was Todd Heezen?
A Denmark Native Through and Through
Todd Heezen wasn’t just from Denmark, Wisconsin — he was Denmark, Wisconsin. Born on April 27, 1984, he lived in the same community his entire life. He didn’t need to go anywhere else to build something worth remembering. He built it right there, in the town he called home, surrounded by the people who mattered most to him. That kind of rootedness is rare these days, and it says everything about who Todd was as a person.
Denmark is a small, tight-knit village in Manitowoc County, the kind of place where neighbors still wave from the driveway and everyone knows your name. Todd didn’t just live there. He contributed to it — as a worker, a coach, a husband, a father, and a friend.
The Meaning Behind the Name “Willard”
His full name was Todd “Willard” Heezen. While the exact story behind the name Willard isn’t documented publicly, names like that tend to carry generational weight in families rooted in farming communities across Wisconsin. It’s the kind of name that connects a man to something older and deeper than himself — and Todd was certainly that kind of man.
The Man Behind the Legacy — Todd’s Life Story
Born Into Hard Work on a Dairy Farm
Todd didn’t learn hard work from a motivational poster. He learned it at 5 a.m. in a barn, with cold hands and warm animals, doing the kind of work that builds character from the ground up. He was born to Fred and Dolores (Kozlovsky) Heezen, and growing up, the family farm wasn’t a hobby. It was a way of life.
He milked cows, did barn chores, and worked the farmland through the seasons. Even as an adult — even after he’d built a career and started his own family — he still occasionally went back to milk cows and work the land during summer. That’s not something you do out of obligation. That’s something you do because the soil is in your blood.
And he didn’t just keep that tradition to himself. He brought his own children into it, teaching them the ropes, showing them what it means to work with your hands and take pride in what you produce.
A Love Story That Began at All Saints Parish
On November 14, 2009, Todd married the love of his life, Melissa DeGrand, at All Saints Parish in Denmark. It was more than a wedding — it was a promise made in the town where both of them had roots, surrounded by the community that would watch them build a life together.
By all accounts, Todd was the kind of husband who showed up. Who pushed his wife to be her best self. Who showed his kids what a real partnership looks like. That’s not something you can fake or perform. It’s something you live, day after day, and Todd lived it well.
Rising Through the Ranks at Salm Partners
One of the things you need to understand about Todd Heezen is that he didn’t walk into success. He earned every single inch of it. He began his career at Salm Partners — a food manufacturing company based in Denmark — starting on the production line at case pack. The very bottom of the ladder.
And then, through years of showing up, working hard, building relationships, and refusing to cut corners, he worked his way all the way up to plant manager. That’s not a story about luck. That’s a story about what integrity and perseverance actually look like in real life. His colleagues didn’t just respect him professionally — many of them became lasting friends. The kind you keep long after the workday ends.
A Father, Husband, and Coach Who Led by Example
The Kind of Dad Who Never Missed a Game
Ask most people what they want most from a parent, and somewhere near the top of the list is simply being there. Todd understood that. He was a proud and devoted father to his daughter Addyson and son Braedyn. He pushed them — not with pressure, but with belief. The kind of push that says, “I know what you’re capable of, and I’m not going to let you sell yourself short.”
He was the best practice patient for Addyson as she worked through nursing school. That’s a dad being fully present in his kid’s world, not just watching from a distance. And when Braedyn played baseball, Todd was in the stands. Almost every time. Cheering with the kind of pride only a father watching his son do something he loves can feel.
A Coach Who Made Others Believe in Themselves
Todd also served as a coach, guiding younger athletes with patience and encouragement. Good coaches are more common than great ones, but Todd was one of the great ones — not because he had a trophy cabinet, but because he understood that his job wasn’t to win games. It was to grow people.
The kids he coached didn’t just learn the sport. They learned something about showing up, about teamwork, about what it looks and feels like to have an adult in your corner who genuinely believes in you.
His Greatest Joy Was Right at Home
For all that Todd accomplished at work and in the community, his greatest joy was simple: his family. He put them first. Not in a performative way, not because it looked good — but because that’s genuinely who he was. Everything he worked for, every long day at the plant, every early morning on the farm, was ultimately for them.
Todd’s Passions — From the Farm Fields to American Family Field
A Devoted Milwaukee Brewers Fan
Todd Heezen loved the Milwaukee Brewers. Not casually. Devotedly. He watched games from American Family Field when he could make it out there. He watched from his chair at home. He even watched from his desk at work. He hardly missed a game.
If you’ve ever been around a true baseball fan during a tense ninth inning, you know they’re not watching a sport. They’re living it. That was Todd with the Brewers. It was his way of unwinding, his ritual, his connection to something bigger than the everyday grind.
Summer Farming and Staying True to His Roots
Even as his professional life grew, Todd never fully left the farm behind. Summer meant getting back to the land — working it, feeling it, sharing it with his kids. There’s something deeply grounding about that. In a world that moves fast and forgets where it came from, Todd was someone who always remembered.
The People Who Carry His Memory Forward
Survived By Those He Loved Most
Todd is survived by the people who meant everything to him:
- His wife, Melissa Heezen
- His daughter, Addyson Heezen
- His son, Braedyn Heezen
- Siblings: Julie (Zane) Grieling, Debbie (Gregg) Schultz, Tammy (Leroy Phillips) Goddard, Tim Heezen, Cindy Hummel, and Mary (Nathan) Magley
- Mother-in-law Jean DeGrand (Joe Giese)
- Sister-in-law Beth Higgins
- A wide circle of extended family, friends, and colleagues who will carry his memory forward every day
Preceded in Death By Family He’ll Reunite With
Todd was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Dolores (Kozlovsky) Heezen, his brother Tom Heezen, and Jon DeGrand. He joins a family line that ran deep in faith, community, and honest work.
Service and Memorial Details for Todd Heezen
Visitation Details — Monday, May 4, 2026
Family and friends are welcome to gather on Monday, May 4th, 2026, at Cotter Funeral Home in Denmark, Wisconsin. Visitation will run from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
This is a time to come together, share memories, offer support to Melissa and the children, and celebrate the life of someone who made a real difference.
Memorial Service Information
Immediately following visitation, a memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm at Cotter Funeral Home. The service will be officiated by Deacon Denis Kozlovsky — a meaningful connection, given that Kozlovsky was Todd’s mother’s maiden name, suggesting a deep family and faith tie that brings a personal touch to the service.
How to Get to Cotter Funeral Home in Denmark, WI
Cotter Funeral & Cremation Care is located at:
536 County Road R, Denmark, WI 54208
It’s a well-established funeral home that has served the Denmark and greater Manitowoc County community for many years. If you’re traveling from the Green Bay area or further out, plan to arrive with a few minutes to spare.
How to Honor Todd’s Memory
Sending Flowers to the Heezen Family
One of the most immediate ways to express sympathy is by sending flowers to the family. You can arrange a floral delivery through the Cotter Funeral Home flower store online. Arrangements can be sent in time for the visitation and service.
Planting a Memorial Tree in Todd’s Name
A growing number of families are choosing memorial trees as a lasting tribute. Rather than a cut arrangement that fades, a tree grows — year after year. You can plant a tree in Todd’s memory through the tribute options listed on the Cotter Funeral Home obituary page. It’s a beautiful, living way to honor someone who loved working the land.
Signing the Online Guestbook
If you can’t attend in person — whether you’re out of state, dealing with health, or just didn’t hear in time — signing the online guestbook is a meaningful gesture. Melissa and the kids will read those messages. Knowing that people beyond their immediate circle remember and love Todd matters more than you might think. Visit the Cotter Funeral Home obituary page or Legacy.com to leave your message.
A Community’s Loss — Denmark, Wisconsin Remembers Todd Heezen
Denmark, Wisconsin is the kind of place where a man like Todd Heezen doesn’t just live and work — he becomes part of the fabric of the town. His presence at Salm Partners touched dozens of coworkers. His presence on the sidelines touched young athletes. His presence at home shaped two children who are growing into people their father believed in completely.
When the obituary says “his presence made a lasting impact on everyone who was fortunate enough to know him,” that’s not a platitude. That’s just a fact. You don’t climb from the production line to plant manager without people seeing you clearly and trusting you deeply. You don’t raise kids who let you be their “best practice patient” in nursing school without having built something real and warm and lasting in your family.
Denmark lost a good one. And the people who knew Todd Heezen know exactly what that means.
Frequently Asked Questions About Todd Heezen’s Obituary
When did Todd Heezen pass away?
Todd “Willard” Heezen passed away on April 25th, 2026, just two days before what would have been his 42nd birthday on April 27th.
Where is the memorial service being held?
The memorial service is being held at Cotter Funeral Home & Cremation Care, located at 536 County Road R, Denmark, WI 54208, on Monday, May 4th, 2026, beginning at 7:00 pm, following visitation from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.
Who are Todd Heezen’s survivors?
Todd is survived by his wife Melissa, daughter Addyson, son Braedyn, six siblings, his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and a large extended family of friends and colleagues.
Where did Todd Heezen work?
Todd worked at Salm Partners in Denmark, Wisconsin, where he rose from an entry-level position in case pack all the way to plant manager over the course of his career.
How can I send condolences to the Heezen family?
You can send condolences by signing the online guestbook at cotterfuneralhome.com or Legacy.com. You can also send flowers or plant a memorial tree through the tribute links on Todd’s obituary page.
How old was Todd Heezen when he passed?
Todd was 41 years old at the time of his passing. He was born on April 27, 1984, and passed away on April 25, 2026 — two days before his 42nd birthday.
Who is officiating the memorial service?
The memorial service will be officiated by Deacon Denis Kozlovsky, a deeply personal choice given the Kozlovsky family connection through Todd’s late mother, Dolores (Kozlovsky) Heezen.
What was Todd Heezen known for in Denmark, Wisconsin?
Todd was known for his work ethic, his kindness, his dedication to family, his role as a coach, and his unwavering loyalty to the people in his life. At work, he was respected as a leader who came up through the ranks honestly. At home, he was the kind of father and husband who showed up — every single time.
Todd “Willard” Heezen — April 27, 1984 to April 25, 2026. A husband. A father. A coach. A friend. A man who loved hard, worked harder, and left Denmark, Wisconsin a little better for having been here.