Robert "Bob" Dewitt Heck 1924 - 1997

HECK, ADAMS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/17/2014 at 22:03:14

3 September 1997

Robert "Bob" Dewitt Heck, 72, of Onawa, Iowa, passed away Sunday, August 17, 1997, at St. Luke's Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, after a long illness.

Bob was born October 9, 1924, at Smithland, Iowa, the son of Charles and Celia (Adams)Heck. He graduate from Onawa High School in 1942. In September 1942 he moved to San Antonio. Texas, where he was employed as assistant messenger with the War Department, Quartermaster Motor Base. He left this position to serve his country in the U.S. Navy from March 1943 to November 1946. Following his tour in the Navy, he returned to Onawa and worked in the construction business. Only Jul 31, 1952, he married Jane Madsen in Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1967 he went to work for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a crane operator and remained there until his retirement in 1982 due to ill health.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Onawa. He was very active with the Boy Scouts in Onawa and was Troop Master of Troop #332 for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; a son and his wife, Charles and Kim Heck of Fort Dodge, Iowa; a granddaughter, Tracy Heck of Onawa, Iowa; a special granddaughter, Julie Thompson of Onawa; 2 grandsons, Zachary and Tony Heck of Fort Dodge, Iowa; a sister, Alice Kron of Onawa; 2 sisters-in-law, Cleo and Helen Heck; a stepmother, Flossie Heck Vess of Natchitoches, Louisiana; 2 half-sisters, Charlene Vail and Geraldine Kyson, both of Natchitoches, Louisiana; and 2 half brothers, Glen Heck of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Charles D. Heck of Winfield, Louisiana.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father and two brothers, Melvin and Paul.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 20, 1997 at Faith Lutheran Church, Onawa, Iowa, with Rev. Steven C. Hetzel officiating. The pianist was Mrs. Jack Jordan and the congregational hymns were "Amazing Grace" and "Nearer My God to Thee".

Honorary Caskets Bearers were Joe Nemeth, Gene Kelley, Bill Irwin, Louis Mills, Everett Peasley, LeRoy Davis, and Kenneth Ingram.

Active casket bearers were Vernon Mathiasen, Newt McCunn, Robert Blatchford, Bob Murphy, Lyle Lambert, and Herold Meyers.

Interment was in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa, with Military Graveside Services by Monona County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2694, Gordon Conway, Commander.

Arrangements were by Pearson Funeral Home, Onawa, Iowa.