George Heller, 1931 - 20 Feb 2017

HELLER, DUSIL, SOLBRIG, DENISON, BROWN, LAZEAR, EBERHARDT, KING, WALKER, DANIELS, MORTON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/2/2017 at 15:10:49

Funeral service for George Heller, 86, Marengo, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the First Presbyterian Church, Marengo. He died suddenly Monday, Feb, 20, 2017, at his home.

The Rev. Anni Mingin will officiate at the service.

Burial will be in the Kostza Cemetery, Kostza.

Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at the church.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com

George Heller was born and raised on a farm in rural Ladora. After attending country school, he graduated from Iowa Valley High School in 1948 and attended Parsons College. He married his high school sweetheart, Vava, and settled in Marengo. Among his jobs as a welder and an insurance salesman, he also owned his own boat and motor business and “VJ Shoes and Sport” on Marengo’s town square. Later in life, he was sought out for his sales abilities, managing and working in a variety of retail stores at Tanger Outlets and Coral Ridge Mall.

George was an avid outdoorsman traveling across the country to hunt wild game; he and his family shared many camping and boating adventures. He taught his family a love and respect for wildlife and the many pets that were lucky enough to have shared his home. In the 1960’s he formed a water skiing club where they performed pyramids and tricks on skis. He loved watching and partaking in all sports, especially watching his grandchildren play soccer. He was also well known for his sense of humor and pulling epic pranks; the stories are still spreading joy and laughter. He will be greatly missed by his family and countless friends.

Heller is survived by his wife of 66 years, Vava (Solbrig) Heller; brother, Frank Heller; daughters, Jaleen (Heller) Denison and Keena (Heller) Brown and her husband, Randy Brown, and son, Dion Heller and his wife, Michele Heller; grandchildren, Kendra (Brown)Lazear and her husband, Blake Lazear, and great-granddaughter, Jayden Lazear, Athea (Eberhardt) King and her husband, David King, Karissa Brown, Emma (Walker) Daniels and her husband, Jacob Daniels, and Aubrey Brown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd Heller and Emma (Dusil) Heller, and siblings, Ernest, Lloyd Jr., Mary, Elvin, Wesley, Alice (Heller) Morton, her husband Albert Morton, and sister-in-law, Zelma Heller.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 01 Mar 2017 pg 5
The Gazette, 24 Feb 2017, 10a [abbreviated]