Frederick Hiestand Obituary

Frederick Hiestand

March 3, 2025

Frederick K. Hiestand, long time resident of Madison, Wis., died on March 3, 2025, after a brief illness. A passionate devotee of political and natural history, fine dining, and conversation, Fred was loved his entire life by his surviving sons, daughters-in-law, nephews, and a grandchild.

Fred Hiestand was born on December 21, 1938, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Jacob H. Hiestand and Alice (Root) Hiestand. His only sibling, Richard R. Hiestand, preceded him in death. Fred received his early education in Mt. Penn and Curwensville, Pennsylvania. He graduated from high school in North Tonawanda, New York. After graduating from Oberlin College, Ohio, Fred attended the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University where he obtained a Master of Public Administration degree in 1962.

Fred Hiestand then moved to Madison and joined the budget review section at the Wisconsin Department of Administration. In 1964, he and Jill (Van Harpen) Hiestand were married. They had two sons, Trevor and Jason. Fred moved to the near east side Marquette neighborhood in Madison in the early 1970s. There, he and his sons developed a fondness for sailing (including ice sailing), maintenance of an older lake home, and dogs. Fred divorced Jill in 1979, but Fred remained in Madison and maintained close, constant, and cherished contact with their sons for his entire life. Fred left the Wisconsin Department of Administration in 1972 and became Assistant Director for Planning and Administration at the Wisconsin Board of Technical Colleges where he worked until 1985.

Fred Hiestand was also married to and resided with Beth (Trachtenberg) Hiestand for five years in Madison, and to Marywynn Kuwashima in New York, for a brief period thereafter. Fred enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 13th Evacuation Hospital and was discharged in 1968. He was a board member and president of Historic Madison, Inc., and the Marquette Neighborhood Association. Fred was a voracious reader of books, newspapers and periodicals of all types, and his estate made a sizeable donation of his history books to the Madison Public Library. His patience, charm, and appreciation for all things academic deeply affected those who loved him.

Fred Hiestand is survived by his son, Trevor (BryAnn Chen) Hiestand of Atlanta, Georgia; son, Jason (Megan) Hiestand of Madison, Wisconsin; granddaughter, Veronica Hiestand of Atlanta, Georgia; nephew, Chris [Kathleen] Hiestand of Amherst, New York; and nephew, Mark Hiestand of Williamsville, New York.

A celebration of life is pending for a later date.

Cress Funeral Service

3325 E. Washington Ave.

Madison, WI 53704

608-249-6666