Don S. Heffner

1951 - 2025

Don S Heffner
April 29, 1951 - June 25, 2025
The Mountains are calling and I must go! Don Heffner, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and dear friend climbed his last earthly hill to meet the Lord on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025.
He was born on April 29th, 1951 in Oregon City, Oregon to Wallace George Heffner and Evelyn Slade Heffner. He was the youngest of five children, Clyde Netz, Francis Sanchez, Wallace B Heffner and John T Heffner. He lived his early life in Oregon and the Seattle area. While his sister Clyde was living in Kwajalein Atoll, she sent for Don to live with her for about a year. This started his love of travelling the world.
Upon his HS graduation, is when his adventures began. His first and favorite trip was with good friend Terry Valdez to Europe. They spent 4 months in a VW bus travelling the countryside, visiting museums, staying in hostels from London to Yugoslavia. After leaving Europe, he continued his travels through Africa and the Saharan desert. It was the trip of a lifetime. On his return to the US, he moved back to Wenatchee and worked for Cusick Construction as a Carpenter. This is where he met his wife Kathy through her brother Randy. They married in March 1981 and started their family. At the same time, he also finished his Construction management degree at CWU. He started his new job with Douglas County TLM where he worked for 20 years, first as an inspector, and then as Building Official. His final job was Building Inspector for City of Leavenworth. He really enjoyed working there in the beauty of the mountains.
Don reveled in being a parent to his two children, Lindsay and Adam. The family spent all their free time camping, fishing, boating, hiking and skiing and participating in all the sporting events at school. His favorite adventures were taking the boat up to Lake Chelan and camping at all the up-lake campgrounds, building campfires, fishing and sightseeing as well as the many trips to Hawaii with his wife's large extended family. With the arrival of twin grandsons, more adventures abounded. He was never happier than when he was camping in the mountains with friends and family. It was his spiritual domain.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and sister Francis Sanchez. Remembering him always with love is his wife Kathy and children; Lindsay and Dustin Knight and grandsons Zachary and Conor Knight, Adam and Kayla Heffner and granddaughter Madalyn, sister Clyde/Vernon Netz, brothers Wally/Nan Heffner, John/Pat Heffner; nieces and nephews Jennifer/Kim Netz Nehr, Heather Netz, Lisa/Mike Madland, Anitra Simmons, Tony Sanchez, Sunny/Scott Houmes, Mark/Erin Heffner, Rebecca Heffner and his many great nieces and nephews.
We all wish him happy trails with a light pack, smooth waters, and plentiful fish to fill your net. Your new Journey has just begun. A Celebration of Life will be held on August 3, 2025 at Mission Ridge Lodge at 4 p.m. with memories, stories, pictures and food and drink to share.