Lenard Heckert

Died: Jan. 12, 2013

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Lenard F. Heckert, age 86, son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away Saturday.

Lenard was born Oct. 30, 1926, in Venedy, Ill., to George and Ester Heckert.

He graduated from Okawville High School and the University of Illinois.

Lenard served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Once discharged, he attended college on the GI bill.

Lenard worked for Pet Milk Inc. for more than 40 years. Upon retirement, he and Juanita traveled as a government consultant with IESC with service in Bangkok, Thailand; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia.

Lenard and his loving wife of 63 years, Juanita Lietz Heckert, were united in marriage on Aug. 17, 1949. In their time together they lived in Freemont, Ohio, Hastings, Mich., Belleville, Wis., Wayland, Mich., Greeneville, Tenn., and Kalamazoo.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita, and his children: Nita, Boyd and Paul. His family has expanded over time to include seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Lenard enjoyed his time as a grandfather. In Michigan, grandpa went parking at the local park with his grandchildren Katie and Becky. While in Tennessee, he enjoyed camping with his grandchildren Jonathan and Kristen. In Michigan, he watched his grandchildren Sarah, Holly and Chelsea play high school sports.

He will be greatly missed.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Wayland United Methodist Church.

A service will also be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 4272 Stone Church Road, Addieville, Ill.

Please visit Lenard's personal memory page at http://www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, is in charge of arrangements.