George A. Heikens, 1902-1976

HEIKENS, ARENDS, GORDON, CHRISTENSEN, HOLZII, BECK

Posted By: Sharon K Hesebeck (email)
Date: 2/23/2013 at 20:57:54

George A. Heikens
February 9, 1902-April, 1976

Funeral for George A. Heikens Sr. 74, of Spencer, was held Friday afternoon from Grace United Methodist Church of Spencer.

The Rev. Kenneth Suetterlin officiated. Burial was at Summit Township Cemetery at Spencer.

Bearers; Marvin Heikens, Roger Heikens, John Jensen, John Weiskircher, David Simington and Dick Beving

Mr. Heikens died Tuesday at Spencer Municipal Hospital.

He was born February 9, 1902 to Isaac G. and Falean (Arends) Heikens in Grundy County, Iowa.

On April 15, 1940, he was married to Vivian Gordon at Cherokee.

He moved his family in 1908 to Clay County, where he received his education in the Summit Township and Spencer Schools. He attended Iowa State College, graduated from the two year agricultural course in 1920, later returning for the four year course from which he graduated in 1927.

He was on the staff of the Clay County National Bank when it opened its door in the fall of 1927. In 1930-31, he worked in the Soviet Union as a swine specialist, one of the first three Americans employed in that capacity. Following his return to this country, he farmed near Fostoria until he joined the Iowa Emergency Relief Administration, managing a packing plant in Muscatine.

In 1935, he became a member of the group which ser up operation of the Iowa rural Rehabilitation Corporation and continued in this work in the Farm Security Administration (no Farmers Home Administration) as district supervisor in Albia, Hampton and Cherokee and as state director in Ames and Des Moines. In 1943, he returned to take over operation of the family farm near Spencer where he resided until his death.

Mr. Heikens served as a member of the Clay County Fair Board, the Clay County Conservation Board and was on the Board of Directors of the Farmers Trust and Savings Bank for 47 years. He was past president of the Iowa State Archeological Society. He was a candidate for the U.S. Congress from the old 8th District of Iowa in 1946. He was a member of the steering committee which organized the Clay County Soil Conservation District and in 1963 served as permanent chairman of the Spencer Community School reorganization.

He was a boys' 4-H leader five years, and Iowa "Partner In 4H" and a 50 year member of the Masons. Mr. Heikens was a member of the Fostoria United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his widow, Vivian; a son, Dr. George A. Heikens, Jr. of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; two daughters, Mrs. Calvin (Kathy) Christensen of Spencer and Mrs. Royal (Barbara) Holz II, of Grand Junction, Iowa; six grandchildren and a foster sister, Mrs. Gustav Beck of Spencer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother who died in childhood.

Warner Funeral Home of Spencer was in charge of arrangements.

Morning Herald
April 25, 1976

Interment in Evergreen cemetery
 

Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
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