HEIDEL: In Loving Memory of William Jake Heidel who was born July 12, 1927 at North Battleford, SK and passed away January 1, 2013 at North Battleford, SK. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Mildred ; loving children and grandchildren: Marilyn (Lorne) Kemp - Jake; Chris (Florence) Heidel - Kenton & Mary; Donna Heidel; Bruce Heidel and Michael Heidel; brothers and sisters: Louis (Velda) Heidel, Lawrence Heidel, Thelma (Terry) Wakelin, Evelyn (Al) Cheney, Don (Kathy) Heidel, Larry (Lorraine) Heidel and Harry (Josephine) Heidel; sisters-in-law: Rosemarie Heidel, Joyce Heidel and Ruby Heidel; nieces, nephews and their families. Bill was predeceased by his son Terry Heidel; parents, John and Helen Heidel; brothers, Charlie, Ernest and Robert Heidel; sisters: Elaine (Tom) Withams and Madeleine (Alf Moar) O'Hirko; sister-in-law, Pat Heidel. The Funeral Service was held Monday, January 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. from Third Avenue United Church, North Battleford, SK with Rev. Frances Patterson officiating. Family Shared Memories were given by Donna Heidel and Chris Heidel. Gifts of Music from: Organist, Ilene Wettergreen; Third Avenue Sanctuary Choir; Soloists: Peggy Lindsay - "Too Old to Die Young"; Robert MacKay - "On Eagle's Wings" and Hymn Selections: "Bringing In The Sheaves" and "Abide with Me". The Urn Bearer was Marilyn Kemp. Memorials are requested to Battleofrds Union Hospital Foundation Inc. Box 1358, North Battleford, SK S9A 3L8 and Battlefords District Care Centre, Box 69, Battleford, SK S0M 0E0 (designate to the Alzheimer Ward). Interment took place at Garden Of Devotion - Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, North Battleford, SK. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service. 446-4200 Eulogy William Jake Heidel - Bill the name most knew him by. Son of John and Helen Heidel born July 12, 1927. Just imagine his life spanning from horse and plow to flying on jets to far off destinations. What a ride! Brother to 12, 4 sisters - Elaine, Madeline, Eve, Thelma and 8 brothers - Ernest, Bob, Lou, Charlie, Lawrence, Don, Larry and Harry. He had strong family ties. Through out his life he worked, travelled and participated in many outdoor recreational activities with them. Husband to Mildred - married October 14, 1953. They did not quite make it to their 60th Anniversary, but the love and memories will live on. Father to 6, Marilyn, Terry, Chris, Donna, Bruce and Michael. I guess kids were an important part of their plan because Marilyn arrived just over 9 months after their wedding honeymoon. Grandfather to 3, Jake, Kenton and Mary. They enjoyed times at harvest, fishing and camping with their Grandpa. Friends to many people, too numerous to count. Bill grew up on the Heidel farmstead in the Metropole district attending school there. Along with his brother Ernest, they helped their father to break and farm the land. This lead to a life-time partnership of farming with Ernest. In his mid 20s he spent his winters on the BC coast working at the MacMillan-Blowdel sawmill. This experience served will when the Heidel brothers opened a mill later in the Meadow Lake area. In his spare time during the summer of those years he started building the farmstead with the help of some family and friends. The house took 2 years to build. Upon completion he married Mildred and started his family. The original home still stands with numerous upgrades. Bill liked hockey and played with the Metropole Flyers. As kids we remember sitting with Dad and watching the Bruins beat up the Canadians every Saturday night. A big part of his life was Outdoor recreation. He hunted, fished and camped all his life. Thank you very much for the invention of quads. He owned 4 different bikes and managed to accumulate 40,000 plus kilometers riding, breaking trail, fishing and being a general farm hand. When Marilyn started driving the combine he followed beside her on the quad day after day giving her moral support. He owned 4 cabins at Lanz Point, Meota, Chitek Lake and the last in La Ronge. Maybe we had so many different cabins because when we got together with the cousins, trouble followed. Just as Emma about the Chitek Lake incident. Bill and Mildred loved to travel. Earlier on they made trips to Texas and Mexico. They started their jet-setting with family and friends on trips organized through Lou Heidel at AC Delco. Travel destinations included Rome, Jamaica, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Barbados and Hawaii. By land they have travelled from BC to Nova Scotia and Alaska to Mexico. Bill started retiring from the farm in the mid-80s. At that point summers were spent in La Ronge and in the winter they joined the Snowbird crowd in Yuma, Arizona. He still tried to maintain a hand in the farm. Once over discussions of how to fix a problem with some equipment on the farm there was Dad's way and Chris' way. Chris looked in an hour later to check progress which was none. Dad decided the new way to fix itkind of sounded like Chris' original one. Bill was a kind person and had a smile on his face for everyone. He made it a point all through life to take Sunday off to spend time with family and friends. And he was always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. He never raised his voice but he had the stern voice. Once again with the cousins we thought it was great idea to check the sight from the top of the garage. Bruce broke his arm in the middle of the babies being born and a wedding. The stern voice definitely came out. Unfortunately his last few years were hampered with illness. He struggled with progressive forgetfulness that lead to frustration and agitation due to not remembering a word, name, then phrase. Despite this, last winter was spent in Yuma shuffling, swimming and checking out the Green Door with Lorne in Mexico. This summer he camped, rode his quad and fished at Cluff and Clearwater Lakes with family and friends. For those able to visit and spend time with him during this period in life, we are sincerely grateful as it offered comfort. Card Of Thanks Thank you so much for the doctors and especially the nurses who cared for Bill while he was in Battlefords District Care and Battlefords Union Hospital; thank-you to Bob MacKay of Battlefords Funeral Service; also thank-you to all friends and neighbors with all your caring thoughts and love at this difficult time. Thank-you very much from the Bill Heidel Family. ____________________________________________________
