By Thomas J. McKillen
Managing Editor
Friends of Pat Heitman are seeking to remember him through an event that will fund scholarships for Menomonee Falls High School seniors each year.
Heitman died June 5 when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle. Heitman was 44-years-old, and is survived by his wife Nicole and three children.
Two friends of the Heitman family are the leading organizers behind the Bags for Pat event, which will be held at Buzdums Pub & Grill, W188 N10515 Maple Road, Germantown, starting at 4 p.m. Aug. 26. Bags for Pat will feature a 64-team bags tournament which sold out a month before the event. Teams who entered the tournament will get free admission to a concert by Ryan McIntyre. For non-team players, there will be a $15 cover charge to see McIntyre.
“When deciding what type of event to put together we didn’t want to do a golf outing because Pat didn’t golf and we did want to do a bowling event because Pat didn’t bowl. He was a pretty simple guy who liked to get together with friends and have fun,” said Jeff Lemieux, who organized the event with his wife Tracy. “So we decided to have a bags (also known as cornhole) tournament because anyone can play bags. We also wanted to have music for people who didn’t or couldn’t play in the bags tournament and wanted to come out and dance and have fun.”
In addition, there will be a raffle at the event and organizers are looking fore more donations for raffle prizes. The event organizers were able to connect with McIntyre through Steve Chmielewski, who was in the band Old Mil and is friends with McIntyre.
Lemieux explained that his wife Tracy knew Pat Heitman since third grade and he and Heitman became friends in high school.
“He stood up in my wedding and I stood up in his wedding. My wife and I wanted to do something to help honor him and keep his memory alive. So we got started on putting this event together right away,” Lemieux said.
Funds from the event will raise money for a Pat Heitman Scholarship Fund that will be give out to senior students each year at Menomonee Falls High School.
“This will be an annual event that we look to grow each year. We want this to be a fun event to celebrate Pats life because I know that is what he would want,” Lemieux said.
With the fun, Lemieux said the day will be a time to remember a person who was a friend to many.
“Pat was the type of guy who would do anything to help a friend. He was always fun to be around and loved being a father to his three kids Alex, Ben and Grace and the husband to his wife Nicole,” Lemieux said. “He loved going to watch his kids play sports. He was an extremely hard worker but always made sure to be able to finish work in time to go watch his kids play their sports. He was one of the most honest and caring guys I know and I was always and continue to proud to call him a friend.”
More information about the Bags for Pat event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/PatHeitmanScholarshipFund/
