Alfons Heckl Jr., Died March14, 2017

Alfons Heckl Jr.

Died March 14, 2017

NORTHPORT – Alfons Heckl Jr., 89, of Northport, passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at home with his loving family at his side.

  Alfons was born April 4, 1927 in Chicago, the son of Alfons Heckl Sr., and Frieda (Schleitzer) Heckl.  On June 27, 1953 in Chicago he married Arlene Diane Goeringer.

  After graduating from an all-boys high-school in Chicago, he immediately enlisted in the Navy, as WWII was ongoing. He served on the destroyer USS Putnam 757 in the South Pacific Campaign.  After the war, he continued his education in electronics and drafting. He became Head of the Drafting Dept. at Dearborn Stove Co. in Chicago, where he met Arlene Goeringer, who became his loving bride on June 27, 1953.  In 1955 they moved to North Manchester, IN where he was hired as Vice-President of Triwec of Indiana (mfr. of transformers for the electronic and TV industries). They lived there for 21 years, where they raised their five children. 

  He was an adventurous man and loved the outdoors and water.  He trailered with his family throughout the US and Canada and the Christmas school holiday was always spent on Sanibel Island, Florida. He taught the family to ski and many skiing weekends were spent in Northern Michigan at different resorts. When the children grew older and tired of trailering, he sold the trailer and purchased a boat for different adventures on the waters of the Great Lakes, Green Bay, the Mississippi River and the North Channel in Canada.

  After leaving his employment from Triwec the family moved back to the Chicago area, where he became the Industrial Engineer for Arc-Tronics, an electronics mfg. concern in Elk Grove Vlg., IL. He remained there until his retirement in 1991 when he and his wife moved to Northport, MI for the beauty and serenity, which they both desired. Upon moving here, he devoted many hours to his favorite hobby, HO model railroads, and became a member of The Little Finger Train Group of Leelanau County.

  He was known as a very kind and gentle man to his family, friends and employees and will be greatly missed.

  Alfons is survived by his loving wife of sixth three years, Arlene; his children, John Heckl, Deborah (Ronald) Bailey, Gregory A. (Sharon) Heckl, James B. (Laurie) Heckl, Susan K. (Daniel) Sandberg; his grandchildren, Jamie (Bill) Koc, Brandon, Brian, Jeffrey, Alan, Cole, Drew and his great grandchildren, Alex and Andrew Koc.

  He was preceded in death by his parents.

  In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place; a memorial is being planned for late June.

  Memorials may be directed to Grace Bible College, 1011 Aldon ST SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 or Leelanau Conservancy, PO Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654.

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