Robert Paul Heffelfinger

Robert Paul Heffelfinger, of Danville, Iowa, was born on August 14, 1939 and passed away on March 16, 2013 after suffering a massive stroke on March 13th. Robert was best known as "Heff" and also as "Pudge" to those he grew up with. Heff will be forever missed by his wife of 39 years, Terri, and their 2 daughters, Heather and her husband, Trent Henkelvig, and Allison and her husband, Matt Mutchler, all of Danville. His memory and legacy will live on through his 4 grandchildren, Reagan and Addison Henkelvig and Hayden and Sawyer Mutchler. Heff was born in Colo, Iowa to his proud parents, Paul and Jessie (Huntrods) Heffelfinger. He was the youngest of 3 children, joining his sister, Pauline, and brother, Jerry. Heff loved growing up on a farm near Mingo, Iowa and was a standout athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. Baseball was always his favorite. His junior and senior year he was awarded 1st team all-state honors in football. He played center on Mingo's six man football team. In six man football all players are eligible to catch a pass. Pudge was a leading scorer and top defensive player. Heff was a 1957 graduate of Mingo High School. Before graduating from high school, Heff joined the Marine Reserves, then went to the University of Iowa and made the football team as a walk-on. However, a knee injury he sustained his senior year in baseball prevented him from completing the season. He was homesick and couldn't play football, so he returned to Mingo. He then worked various jobs to put himself through school for two years at Simpson College and then graduated from Drake University in 1965. Heff's first teaching and coaching job was at Troy Mills from 1965-1967. In 1967 he moved to Danville, Iowa to teach school and coach. He remained in Danville for the rest of his life. On February 2, 1974, he married Terri Lynn Schroder. In his 33 years at Danville School, Heff taught PE, government and other social studies classes, drivers' ed, and was the athletic director. The first half of his career he coached many boys sports at Danville including head and assistant varsity football, basketball, and baseball. He also spent time as the head junior high football and basketball coach. In 1975 he was assistant coach (offensive coordinator) for Danville's first football team to ever make it to the playoffs. In 1997 Heff was awarded the Don Taft Memorial Award for junior high football coaches. In 1989, after missing all of Heather's 7th grade volleyball games while he was coaching junior high football, Heff decided to switch to girls' sports. He coached junior high and JV girls basketball, ending multiple seasons undefeated. Heff may be best known for his years coaching Danville Bruinette softball. When he retired from both teaching and coaching after Allison's senior year in 2000, he had earned 387 varsity softball wins in 12 seasons and numerous coaching awards. Coaching his daughters and all "his girls" was one of the greatest joys of his life. Through the end of his life he frequently enjoyed telling countless stories of students and athletes who had touched his life. Heff then took on a "retirement" job as a blackjack dealer at Catfish Bend Casino. He did this until 2008. He also enjoyed working as a volleyball and softball/baseball official in the early years of his retirement. Heff's greatest love was his family. Terri, Heather and Trent, and Allison and Matt will be comforted by their infinite happy memories with Heff including vacations that almost always included a Giants baseball game. Especially cherished memories by his family will be the trip to San Francisco in 2003 to watch his Giants play at home and the 2012 trip to St. Louis to watch the Giants in the playoffs. His 4 young grandchildren will miss having Grandpa wrapped around their little fingers. Whenever any of the grandkids were feeling a little ill or didn't want to go with mom and dad, they would sweetly ask Grandpa if they could spend the day with him. Of course, the answer was always "yes." Heff will also be missed by his wonderful brother, Jerry, and their lifelong friend, Don. Heff's dog, Tag, mourns his loss, but Heff is now reunited with his other beloved dog Oreo. He has always been an animal lover, from his boyhood when he'd spend the night in the barn if an animal was in labor to special pets throughout the years, but most especially Oreo. After his family, Heff's next great loves were the Danville Bears and Bruinettes, Iowa Hawkeyes, and San Francisco Giants. In his younger years, Heff loved to play slow pitch softball. He was great pitcher and enjoyed the many games he played every summer with his Pzazz! team. He also enjoyed fishing, working in the yard and with his flower gardens, and going to casinos. Visitation will be from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Thielen Funeral Home. The family would like to invite you to a celebration of Heff's life 10:00 AM Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Thielen Funeral Home with Mr. Steve Ita officiating. Guests are welcome to wear Danville Bears, San Francisco Giants, or Iowa Hawkeye apparel. Burial will be in Long Creek Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held in the community room at Thielen Funeral Home following the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Danville softball program through the Danville Booster Club and the Danville Fire and Rescue Department.