Henry R. Ferstl

Henry R. Ferstl passed away on Feb 22, 2026.  He was born December 12, 1943 in the family farm home in Plain, WI.  On the dairy farm, he was Walter and Margaret’s right-hand man but he still had time to play baseball, play cards (he learned euchre when he was 3), and find the love of his life, Judi, at St. Luke’s school.  Two years after graduating from UW-Madison Farming Short-course in 1963, he married Judi on the coldest day of the year.  In 1971 he took over the farm and raised his family, along with Judi, to know the value of hard work, helping others, and pride in a job well done. Everyone in Plain knew Hank either because they were related to him (and he knew it) or because of his volunteer activities. At St. Luke’s he was a lecturer, cantor, usher, and greeter.  He was a member of the men’s choir for 47 years.  He regularly volunteered to setup and work the annual church festival and decorate the church for Christmas. As a member of the Farm Bureau he helped staff their pavilion during the Sauk County Fair and coordinated delivery of fruits and nuts to its members. For many years he was a reliable weather spotter for the CBS station in Madison (1988 – 2000) and American Red Cross blood donor. He had an active social life mostly involving bowling, playing cards, and boasting about his winnings. He had a mind for numbers and could tell you, for example, exactly how many bales of hay he had each year, the apples a tree produced, or the day of week of any date. He was a big fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and rarely missed a game’s broadcast. In 1999 he sold the farm and took on a variety of jobs at a local sawmill, delivering mail, and a construction company.  He helped out around the neighborhood, tending gardens, mowing lawns, and trimming trees for neighbors and friends. In Heaven, he will be reunited with his parents, Walter and Margaret (Bindl) Ferstl; sister Jean; and son-in-law Troy Ferron. Remaining on this rock hurtling through space and time to remember Henry and continue living his mission are his wife Judi; his children, Susan Ferron, Jennifer (Jamesetta), Andrew (Kerri), and Aaron (Beth); his grandchildren, McCoy (Nayla), Maryn (Austin), Evan, Mason (Livia), Cade, Grace, Charlotte, Red, and Henry; his great-grandchildren, Boone, Willa, and Clemet; his brother Harlan (Jef); and his sister Marge. Henry and Judi sponsored 16 children through Project Understanding and ChildFund; one of these children, Lidiane (from Brazil), became like a daughter and remained close to Henry as she built a family of her own (Marcelo, Emily, and Enzo). They visited Plain recently and it was a special event for both families. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Plain, WI on Saturday, March 21st with the visitation starting at 9:00 am and a Mass at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow a private cemetery service. The family would like to thank the staff at Agrace, especially Kevin and Brittany, and the staff at the Pines for the care they provided. Online condolences available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com