Evelyn Heckendorf, 94, of Hot Springs Village, AR, passed away Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 at Fountain Lake Rehab and Health Center.
She was born Feb. 8, 1918 in Bushnell, IL, moving with her family at the age of six months to Merrill, WI, where she lived for 88 years before moving to Hot Springs Village to live with her only daughter, Marlyn.
She attended school in Merrill and graduated from Lincoln County Normal (a teacher’s college) in 1937. She taught one year and then married her childhood sweetheart, Marvin Heckendorf in 1938 who preceded her in death Nov. 7, 1993. Both were employed at the Weinbrenner Shoe Factory in Merrill until they retired in 1980.
She was the daughter of the late James and Catherine Early and was also preceded in death by her two brothers, Arthur and Elmer and two sisters, Carol and Lillian.
Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Marlyn Ruch of Hot Springs Village; two granddaughters, Robin Smith of Seneca, IL, and Rhonda Urh of Stallings, NC; great granddaughter, April Fosen of Seneca; great grandson, Scott Ericson, Jr. of Seneca; three great great granddaughters, Cassidy, Sophia and Ella Fosen of Seneca; two nephews, Bill Simpson of Covington, WA, and Joe Simpson of Fresno, CA; and niece, Victoria Roy of Sacramento, CA.
Evelyn loved to sing and in her youth sang with other girls on the local radio program. She also sang in a number of local talent shows. She was an expert swimmer and tennis player. After marrying Marvin, she became an expert fisherwoman and deer hunter, which they always did together. They also traveled with a small RV, visiting 49 of the 50 states, first with Marvin and then with her daughter, Marlyn.
She loved reading everything and especially poetry. Frequently, she wrote her own poems. She was a Red Cross Volunteer at Pine Crest Retirement Center.
Evelyn was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, usually wearing her Packers sweater whenever she watched them play and rooted, loudly from the living room.
She regularly attended Village Bible Church and requested that any memorials be sent to the church at 100 Ponderosa Way, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909. She will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Service was held Thursday, Nov. 8, at Caruth Village Funeral Home on Highway 7.