Harold H. Heichel (2006)

HEICHEL, LINN, COMP, FRAJMAN

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 10/1/2006 at 11:55:25

Winterset Madisonian
September 27, 2006

Harold Heichel, Winterset

Harold H. Heichel, 92, of 510 West Court Ave., Winterset died Sept. 23, 2006. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Sept. 30 at the First United Methodist Church, Winterset, of which he was a member. Burial will be at the Winterset Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Collins Oak Park Chapel in Winterset.

Harold Heichel was born March 10, 1914, in Madison County, Iowa, to Herbert S. and Mary Blanche (Linn) Heichel. He was raised in Adair and Madison counties and was a 1932 graduate of Winterset High School. After high school, he entered the American Institute of Business, graduating in 1933. Harold held positions with Swift & Company, Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company and Universal Credit Company in Des Moines before accepting a position with the United States Forest Service in 1935. He served with the U.S. Forest Service in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California, the latter position with the Emergency Rubber Project during World War II and until its termination in 1946.

On Feb. 17, 1937, he married Bernice Iva Comp of Winterset, Iowa. They returned to Winterset from California in 1946, where Harold accepted a position with Iowa Ford Tractor Company until 1949, when they entered the family farm enterprise at Comp's Corner in Madison County. Harold retired from farming in 1979 and in 1986, Harold and Bernice moved to Winterset.

Harold was a member of the Madison County Farm Bureau for more than 50 years. He also was a member and former township director of the Madison County Pork Producers Association. Additionally, Harold was a treasurer of West Star Methodist Church, a treasurer of the Prairie Flower School District, a member of the administrative board of the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Evening Star Masonic Lodge No. 43. With Bernice, he was a longtime participant in Madison County Pork Producer functions and Madison County Covered Bridge Festival activities.

Harold Heichel is survived by his son, Dr. Gary (wife Iris) Heichel of Martinsburg, W. Va. three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, a nephew and friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Bernice Heichel; a daughter, Patricia Frajman; a brother, Floyd Heichel; his parents; an infant granddaughter and an infant great-grandson.

Contributions in Harold's memory may be directed to Middle River Hospice, 300 Hutchings St., Winterset 50273 or to the First United Methodist Church, 309 East Jefferson St. Winterset 50273.