Margaret Eleanor (Secard) Heckendorf entered into eternal joy June 25th, 2015, after a difficult journey with Alzeiheimer’s disease. She resided the past 4 ½ years at Pine Crest Nursing Home, with family, friends, and the angel staff at Pine Crest attending to her care.
Margaret was born August 24, 1927, in Merrill, daughter to the late Helen and Lee Secard. She married Willard ‘Red’ Heckendorf on June 11, 1949 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. They were married for over 56 years. He preceded her in death on June 3, 2005. Margaret graduated from Merrill Senior High School in 1945 and pursued a legal secretary career with the Len Schmidt Law Office, Merrill. She worked at Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Merrill, where she met her spouse Willard ‘Red’ Heckendorf. She also worked for many years as a licensed insurance agent for the Gene Block Insurance Agency in Merrill until her retirement in 1990. Following retirement, she worked part time for Semco in Merrill. Margaret loved gardening, walking, reading, snowmobiling, traveling, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed taking swimming lessons at the Riverside Athletic Club, delivering Meals on Wheels, and attending sporting events of her grandchildren. She was a lifelong resident of Merrill and member of St. Francis Parish where she volunteered, while raising her six children at 509 Liberty Street. Margaret enjoyed sharing and teaching her Catholic faith to many. Her sense of community and volunteering were numerous and endless. Recently, she was honored as Resident of the Month at Pine Crest. She was devoted, devout, compassionate, and the most gracious of all women in her humility and sense of faith. Margaret’s ready wit and joyful smile will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Margaret is survived by three daughters, Jane Riutta, of Green Bay, JoAnn (Vic) Milewczyk, of Merrill, and Patti (Dennis) Baacke, of Tomahawk; two sons, Richard (Joni) Heckendorf, Sr. and Steven (Sandy) Heckendorf, both of Merrill; 13 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; one brother, Ed Secard, of California; one sister, Rose (Pat) Collier, of Port Washington, WI; and one brother-in-law, Norman Heckendorf, of Merrill. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Lee Secard; her husband Willard ‘Red’ Heckendorf; an infant daughter, Jill Heckendorf; two son in laws, Benji Malm and Bruce Riutta; a step grandson, Craig VanDerGeest; two sisters, Mary Ann (Robert) Pernitzke and Helen (Stanley) Germain; and a sister in law, Beryl Secard.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. Presiding is Father Chris Kemp. Burial will take place in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery, Merrill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Special Care Unit at Pine Crest Nursing Home, Merrill, T.B. Scott Library, Merrill, or St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.