Marvin Heupel

1932 - 2024

Marvin Heupel

December 17, 2024

Santa Maria - Our hearts mourn the loss of our father, grandfather, friend, teacher and shepherd, Marvin (Marv) Heupel.

Marv was born to Adam and Emma Heupel in September of 1932 in Bismark, North Dakota. He was the oldest son of five children.

At a young age Marv was very interested in raising livestock beginning with raising rabbits at seven years of age, and he loved every minute of growing up on a cattle ranch in the Sierras. He was very active in high school FFA and won both California State and National Livestock Judging Contests. In the 1940's Heupel Farms was established, as he raised and showed Registered Hampshire and Duroc swine with his younger brother Ken all over California. Marv knew from the time he started high school agriculture classes, that he wanted to teach Ag.

Marv attended Fresno State University majoring in Animal Science where he met and fell in love with Elinor Gould; they were married in May of 1956.

In 1958, Marv and Elinor and their young children Kendra, Kurt and (Annette yet to come) moved to Corvallis, Oregon where he was hired by Oregon State University to manage their swine herd.

In 1971 Marv's teaching career brought him to Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, where he accepted the position of Mechanized Agriculture and Diesel Equipment Technology Instructor and later became the Department Head of the Industrial Technology Department. In the early 1990's Marv started the AHC Certified Truck Driving Program where students prepared for their Class A CDL exams and he spent many hours with students driving trucks from Santa Maria to LA or Bakersfield and back.

Marv preferred his students address him as just plain and simple "Marv" and he deeply valued the relationships that developed with his students.

In 1958, as Marv began his teaching internship, he and Elinor started their purebred Suffolk Sheep flock in Corvallis and in 1968 they began consigning Heupel Suffolks range rams to the prestigious California Ram Sale - for over 20 years, among the top consignors.

Throughout the years Marv, Elinor and family showed and sold across the country continuing to establish their flock. They moved Heupel Suffolks to their ranch in Sisquoc, where they became pioneers in the Suffolk Sheep industry collaborating with leading veterinarians on AI via laparoscope, and genetic testing. While Marvin was teaching full time and at the ranch weekends, Elinor managed the sheep flock with dedication and hard work. Each of his kids also contributed to running the ranch.

In 1994, our dear mom, Elinor passed away after a brave battle with cancer.

Over the later years Marv collaborated with son Kurt and daughter-in-law Carol in the development of a partnership flock where they took over management and care of his ewes in addition to their own flock on their farm in Colorado.

In 1996 Marv married Sandy Tillotson and retired from teaching. Sandy helped Marv with their scaled down sheep operation. They also enjoyed PBR Bull Riding events, their horses and visiting their grown children and grandchildren.

Marv was honored in 2014 by being inducted to the United Suffolk Sheep Association Hall of Fame for his contributions to the development of the Suffolk breed.

Marv was preceded in death by his father Adam, mother Emma, wives Elinor (1994) and Sandy (2022), sister Violet, and recently, his brothers Leo and Ken.

Surviving family: son Kurt Heupel (Carol), daughter Annette Gray (Tim), both of Colorado and daughter Kendra Kimlinger (Jim) who live locally; 7 grandkids, 8 great grandkids; Marv's sister Lorene Smith and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held at his ranch on April 19th, 2025 at 11 AM, with BBQ and fellowship to follow. Please call or text 805-704-2702 for details.