George Hekowczyk

George Hekowczyk was born February 18, 1923, to Steven and Emily (Rzeszowski) Hekowczyk in Webster, Massachusetts. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, January 6, 2025, at the age of 101 at North Shore Health & Rehabilitation Center in Loveland, Colorado. Exemplifying the "Greatest Generation," he lived a life of Christian faith and love for country, community, home, church, and family as a devoted husband, father, grampy, great-grampy, uncle and friend.
George was married to his best friend, Carolyn, for 64 years until she passed away on November 25, 2024. Together they built a family that includes their four children: George Jr. (Candy), Art Sorensen, Donna Sorensen (Vince Dean), and Roy (Kelley). George was a grandfather to Ray and Jim Hekowczyk, Jessica Hoke (Kevin), Rock Armstrong, Codi Armstrong, Christopher (Jordan), Danika and Lindy Hekowczyk. He was a great-grandfather to Jaxon, Jacob, and Esmie Armstrong, Faithe Garza, Gracie and Fischer Marker, and Kennedy and Teagan Hekowczyk. His wife, Carolyn, daughter-in-law, Deb Sorensen, and grandson, Timothy, preceded him in death as well as his parents and siblings Helen Murray, Viola Zakarian, Frank Heywood, Thelma Anderson, and Timothy Rallis.
His early life was spent in Massachusetts where his family raised him in Webster. His mother divorced and married Stephen Rallis who loved him like his own son and taught him Greek. Upon completion of the ninth grade, George worked in the woolen mills in Webster to help support his family. George and his brother, Frank, completed a welding class at the New England Schools of Practical Training. This useful skill would serve him well over his lifetime.
In January 1942, at 18 years old, he enlisted in the Navy to serve in World War II. He was chosen for special training as a Deep Sea Diver. As part of this service, he retrieved test torpedoes at night that had been launched during the day at the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island. He then served as Boatswain's Mate Second Class on the Destroyer Escort USS Charles E. Brannon (DE-446) in the South Pacific until the end of the war. He told of being so anxious to get back home after the war that he 'hitchhiked' on various ships to get him back to the U.S. quicker.
He married his first wife, Jeanne Boulanger, and together they had one son, George, Jr. As a founding member and president of the Nipmuc Water Ski Club in 1954, George and his friends promoted competitions and provided family fun on the shores of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (also known as Webster Lake) in Webster, Massachusetts. On Saturdays, they would teach kids water ski tricks and provide lunch for the families who participated.
Years later when both were single, George required surgery and hired Carolyn as a Private Duty Nurse (common in the 50s before insurance) at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. George and Carolyn married in September 1960 and bought their first home in Ashland, Massachusetts. George worked as a Maintenance Millwright at the General Motors Assembly Plant in nearby Framingham. In 1963, they completed their family with the birth of son Roy.
A master at working with his hands, he would tackle any project. Vacations from work usually meant extra time for projects, such as adding a family room and garage to their home in Ashland. Family members have memories of visits where George might pull his toolbox out of the RV to fix a screen door. Also, whenever he visited his sister in Florida, he'd ask her to make him a 'honey-do list' for their stay. This was typical of many of their 'vacations.' However, not all vacations were work, as George and Carolyn enjoyed many cruises and tours worldwide. He enjoyed showing Carolyn many of the places that he saw while in the Navy.
Visiting Colorado in 1970, the family decided to move to Loveland to be near George's brother-in-law, Arthur Cushing, who built their home in time for them to relocate in the summer of 1971. George took part in building their own apartment buildings. He worked at Kodak of Colorado in Windsor until his retirement in 1982.
After moving to Colorado, George became an avid outdoorsman, enjoying snow skiing, hunting and fishing. His later years at Good Samaritan included fishing almost every day where he joked catching and naming every fish in the pond.
Giving back to the community was always important to George and Carolyn. They volunteered at McKee Medical Center, Good Samaritan Village and Evangelical Covenant Church/LifeSpring Covenant Church where he was affectionately known as the "Candy Man" and was always ready to hand out candy to the children.
Coming to the church later in life, George joined the family's participation in LifeSpring Covenant Church during the 70s. George accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior with the help of Kelley's grandfather, Chet Bender. He and his son, George, Jr., were baptized together in Lake Loveland in August 1982.
George's family feels blessed to have had loving caregivers during his final years at Good Samaritan Village: Maggie Sudbeck ("The Boss" as George liked to call her), Renee Tryels, Deb Daley, Dennis Murphy, Emalee Dague and Lori Symington.
George leaves a legacy as a devoted believer of Jesus Christ and showed this faith every day in his life. We will miss him dearly and we all feel blessed to have had him in our lives. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends and in the many lives he touched over his 101 years.
The family requests that memorials be sent to LifeSpring Covenant Church or Honor Flight of Northern Colorado. A memorial service is planned for 3:00 pm Saturday, February 1, 2025, at LifeSpring Covenant Church (743 Dotsero Drive, Loveland, Colorado) with a reception following the service. George will receive a military burial with Carolyn on February 3, 2025, at Fort Logan National Cemetery (Staging Area B) at 11:30 am.