William G. Heckman

William G. Heckman, 85, of Palm Harbor, FL, formerly of West Springfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 26, 2014. He was born in Mt. Vernon, NY, he was the only child of the late Grace Reilly and George Heckman. He served in the US Navy and received an honorable discharge. William retired from the West Springfield Post Office, where he was a mail carrier for twenty years. He ran the weekly Bingo for the Knight of Columbus, #2212 in West Springfield for years. He also received his 4th Degree from the Knights of Columbus, a prestigious honor. He was an avid sports lover, he enjoyed watching and playing sports, he played baseball, but his real love was the game of golf. He played golf since he was a child and continued to play as often as he could. He spent a few weeks every summer playing golf at Southwick Country Club when he came back to visit his daughters. He had a wonderful group of longtime friends he played golf with, as well as his many friends from the K of C whom he enjoyed just spending time with. He was a wonderful friend to many and his friends were wonderful to him. He was kind to everyone and people just loved him. He will be truly missed by all that knew and loved him. He is survived by his loving children, his sons, Doug Heckman and his wife Vivian of Palm Harbor, FL, with whom he made his home for the last fifteen years, Joe Heckman and his wife Sarah, his daughters, Linda Young, Theresa Heckman and her loving partner Alfred Pajer, and Kim Crean and her husband Stephen. He was a proud and loving grandfather to his grandchildren, Spencer and his wife Tara, Parker, James and his wife Kelley, Courtney and Kayla, Nicole and her husband John, Jeremy and his wife Stephanie and three great-grandchildren. He also leaves his cousin Doreen and her husband Joe Dialessi of Pennsylvania. There will be celebration of life for William starting at the Agawam Curran-Jones Funeral Home, 745 Cooper Street on Tuesday, Oct. 21 with calling hours from 9:30 11am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 47 Pine Street, West Springfield with burial in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The family has set up a fund to place a Memorial Bench in his name at the Southwick Country Club. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to donate may do so by making a donation to the West Springfield Credit Union, William Heckman Memorial, 58 Union Street, West Springfield, MA 01089.