Ferman Richard "Dick" Heckman

DECATUR - Ferman Richard (Dick) Heckman departed this life peacefully on Friday, October 14, 2011 in St. Mary's Hospital, surrounded by love and family. Dick was born in Decatur IL on May 16, 1932, the son of Ferman R. Heckman and Dorothy Hayes Heckman. He attended Macon High School and Decatur High, graduating in 1950. He served his country in the United States Air Force, stationed at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. On April 3, 1952, he married the girl who would share every moment of the rest of his life, Phyllis Ann Moran, in Decatur. After leaving the Air Force, he worked at PermaCell, Macon Arms, and Quigle's Furniture, where he rose to the position of Office Manager. In the early 1960s, Dick and Phyllis moved their young family West, where Dick held management positions with the Albertsons Corporation in Billings MT and the Stevens-Fryberger Company in Sheridan WY. After returning to Decatur, he spent many years working at Harry Appelbaum's and Wagner Castings. In 1981, after recovering from a near-fatal heart attack several years earlier, Dick started his own company, Heckman Healthcare. Working out of their garage and delivering large oxygen tanks in a station-wagon, Dick and Phyllis built a business that would, at one time or another, employ every one of their children and most of their grandchildren. In the late 1980s, Dick and Phyllis "retired" to Tennessee, opening Heckman Hardware in Fairfield Glade TN. Due to health considerations, they returned to Decatur in 1998. Dick remained a vital part of Heckman Healthcare for the remainder of his life, and was active in the business until his health forced him to actually retire in 2010. He always was very appreciative of all of the employees of Heckman Healthcare, current and former, who worked to make the business what it is today. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus #577, Board Member of St. Mary's Oncology Advisory Committee and past President of the American Heart Association. Dick loved his family, his friends, helping others, good food, traveling, and the Chicago Cubs. Only the Cubs disappointed him, but he was pretty sure that next year was going to be The Year. He worked hard and earned his rest, but each of us lives on in the memories of those who have loved us. Dick will live on in the loving memory of his wife, Phyllis, of Decatur; his sons, Anthony Heckman (Adeline) of Warrensburg IL, Daniel Heckman (Peggy) of Decatur, John Heckman (Linda) of Maroa IL; daughters Margie Heckman of Scottsdale AZ and Julie Page (Doug) of Decatur; brothers Wesley Heckman, Sr. of Decatur and Tony Lopez of Laramie WY; Sisters-in law Kelly Flores Heckman of San Jose CA and Sandy Moran Miller of Boise ID; grandchildren Eric Heckman of Lafayette IN, Denise Holtzscher of Dixon MO, Naomi Johnson, Whitney Heckman, Maya Heckman, Adam Heckman and Katie Heckman of Decatur, Zachary Heckman of Chicago, Nicholas Heckman of Forsyth, Benjamin Heckman of Kailua HI, and Selena Harris of Monterey CA; nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother Mamie Pauline Heckman; brothers Billy Heckman and Dallas Heckman; sister Patricia Beasely. Dick's family would like to offer its sincerest thanks to Drs. Rademacher, Dawood, Hasnain and Qureshi and the staff at Fresenius for all of the help that they provided. The family would also like to commend every single part of St. Mary's staff for the care they gave to Dick, from the Valet Parking attendants to the dietary staff to the floor nurses to the therapists, with a very special thanks to Dr. Reyes, the nurses in ICU, the 6th floor staff (particularly Cindy, Sheila and Amy) and Gary Powell. Dick considered all of the staff at St. Mary's part of his family, and at points during the last few years actually spent more time with them than his real family. But he was very specific when he instructed us to thank Dr. Manohar Kola, along with Tamara, Janelle, Fidel and the rest of the staff at Prairie Cardiovascular for the care they showed him throughout his illnesses. Dick firmly believed that no physician has ever shown more love and care for a patient than Dr. Kola showed him; and, since Dr. Kola had managed to keep him alive much longer than anyone had considered possible, considered him the smartest guy on the planet as well as a very good friend. The family will receive friends Monday, October 17, 2011 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home; vigil prayer service will be at 2:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 12 p.m. Tuesday, October, 18, 2011 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Rev. Joe Molloy celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Gilead Cemetery. Memorials: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or Holy Family Church. The Heckman family is being served by the Moran & Goebel Funeral Home, honored provider of Veterans Funeral Care, 2801 N. Monroe St., Decatur, IL 62526. Send condolences and share memories with the family at: www.moranandgoebel.com. Mission Accomplished, Dad. You've earned your rest! Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at http://legacy.com/obituaries/herald-review/