Heller, Alvin Arnold (1926 – 2022)

HELLER, KNIPSTEIN, ORTNER, LANCE, CALLICOTT, PETERSON, OVERMANN, THIELEN, GUBBELS, BUCKLEY, FINKEN, SCHNUETTGEN, KENKEL, STESSMAN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/22/2022 at 18:55:09

Name of deceased: Alvin Arnold Heller

Aged: 96 yrs, 5 mo, 4 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: May 21, 1926; Portsmouth, Shelby County, IA

Died: Oct. 25, 2022; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Oct 31, 2022; St. Mary's Our Lady of Fatima, Portsmouth, IA; burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Portsmouth, IA

Survived by: Children, Pat (spouse, Ralph) Knipstein of Apple Valley, CA, Karen (spouse, Tom) Ortner of Yuba City, CA, Ron (spouse, Dana) Heller of Alpharetta, GA, and John (spouse, Lana) Heller of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Melissa Lance of San Marcos, CA, Adam (spouse, Julie) Ortner of Roseville, CA, Travis (spouse, Meghan) Heller of Canton, GA, and Eric Heller of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren, Maddy Callicott, Emily Callicot, Claire Ortner, Elise Ortner, Alex Lance, Luca Heller, and Landon Heller; step-grandchildren, Drew (spouse, Jen) Peterson, and Faith Peterson; step-great-grandchildren, Jacob and Emmie Overmann; siblings, Rich Heller of Portsmouth, IA, Bonnie Thielen of Denver, CO, Phil Heller of Portsmouth, IA, and Veral Heller of Green Valley, AZ; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Henry and Frances (nee Gubbels) Heller; wife, Ethel (deceased Sep. 13, 2015); siblings, Elaine Buckley, Mary Helen Finken, Rose Ann Schnuettgen, and Darlene Kenkel

Education: Attended grade and high school in Portsmouth, IA, and graduated with the Class of 1944

Religious affiliation: Baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Portsmouth, IA, and remained a life-long and active member, serving as usher, eucharist minister, reader, adult altar server, on the parish council, and the annual picnic committee.

Military service: Enlisted into the U. S. Navy on May 16, 1944, serving his country honorably for 2 years during WWII.

Marriage: Ethel Stessman; Nov. 3, 1948; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Panama, IA

Employment: Began working at a young age delivering papers and working at the Portsmouth Grocery Store; he worked for H.B. Heller & Sons until 1964, when he started Heller Gas & Oil, and retired in 1998, but remained active.

Hobbies/Interests: Member, of Knights of Columbus; member, Shelby County VFW; member, Forty and Eight in Council Bluffs, IA; for 77 consecutive years, Alvin was a member of the Portsmouth American Legion, having served on a local, county, and state level and as 7th District Commander.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com