John Bernard Heil

1943 - 2017

Heil, John Bernard
John B. Heil, 73, died February 14, 2017. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma in 2013 and opted for quality of life by being on the Marshall Protocol treatment. He has lived the last 3 1/2 years traveling and seeing family and just enjoying life. He recently had a spread of the disease and so lost this earthly battle and has gone home to be with Jesus. John was born December 12, 1943 to Henry B. and Hazel M. Heil in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was raised in Oklahoma and left to join the Navy in 1961 where he was stationed on a Radar Picket Ship in Oakland, California. While serving there he met Virginia Ankney and they were married in Oakland, California on March 28, 1964. He then returned to Oklahoma and began a career with Norman Fire Department where he was driver, fireman, and arson investigator from 1965 to 1975. He graduated from Oklahoma State University Technical Institute in 1975 with an Associate's degree in Fire Protection. He then took a job with Schirmer Engineering and was moved to Denver, Colorado to cover a specific territory from 1975 to 1981. He was a member and associate of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. In 1981, while covering his territory he was recruited by Motorola Corporation in Scottsdale to join their Risk Management Team and so in August 1981 the family moved to Tempe, Arizona. In 1986 he graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix. He was instrumental in educating and training EMS from around the valley as well as serving on the Governor's Emergency Response Commission for many years. He retired from Motorola after 18 years and continued his safety work with Kitchell Contractors until he retired in 2008. He then became the office manager and helper to his wife Trudy's Nurse Practioner Practice. John was loved by all he encountered. John was preceded in death by his parents Henry B and Hazel (Patteson) Heil, his brother James H. Heil and his first wife Virginia (Ankney) Heil. He is survived by his wife of 14 years Trudy J. Rumann Heil, his daughter Julie L. (Heil) Sions and husband Roy of Mayview, MO and grandson Eric, step daughter Dania L. (DeLange) Wilson and husband Daniel of Flagstaff, AZ and granddaughters Nadia and Tristin. John also has 3 "adopted" daughters and family who affectionately called him "Pops": Teresa L. Buescher of Tempe, AZ, Cheri Lyn Rednour and husband Steve of Chandler, AZ, Laurie Kaler and husband Vern of Brandon, SD. He also has adopted grandchildren Bobby Buescher and wife Tina of San Tan Valley, AZ, Jordyn Lynn Buescher of Tempe, AZ, Lauren Brown of Chandler, AZ, and Vanessa and Ryan Kaler of Brandon, SD. His daughter Julie brought these wonderful women into his life and then as they aged they brought others into the family fold. Services will be held on Friday, February 17, 2017 at Scottsdale Bible in the chapel with viewing from 12-2pm and then services at 2pm. Interment will be in Oklahoma City at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Scottsdale Bible Church for Tanzania Secondary Education program, Autoimmunity Research.org, or Phoenix Seminary. John loved these programs and would love to see them flourish from his memory.