Donald Fred Heckert

Donald “Donnie” Fred Heckert, age 88, of Willmar, passed away Friday morning, July 26, at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

 Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Military honors will be provided by the Willmar American Legion Post. www.petersonbrothers.com

 Donnie was born on September 28, 1935, on a farm in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Violet (Elg) Heckert. He grew up in Comfrey and graduated from Comfrey High School in 1953. Following graduation, Donnie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in the Korean War and Vietnam conflict. On February 9, 1957, Donnie was married to Mary Jane Rickman in Bremerhaven, Germany (Mary Jane was in the U.S. Army). He was honorably discharged in 1975 after 22 years of service at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant and was awarded several medals of commendation. 

 After retirement, they lived in Lebanon, Oregon where Donnie attended the University of Oregon and earned a degree in accounting. They later moved to Kingman, Arizona and from 1998 to 2023, lived in Tucson, Arizona. In July of 2023, Donnie moved to Minnesota due to health reasons.

 He was a life member of the V.F.W. Post and the Elks Lodge. Donnie volunteered at numerous events at the Elks Lodge and visited vets at the V.A. Hospital. He also served as a camp host at Ainsworth State Park in Oregon.

 Donnie enjoyed woodworking, playing cribbage, trips to the Las Vegas Casinos to play poker and riding his Harley motorcycle. He rode many miles from coast to coast. Donnie was adventurous and enjoyed life. He had a great smile and sense of humor. He was very knowledgeable of the countries and states in which he lived and traveled.

 He is survived by one sister, Jeannette (and Bob) Carlson of Willmar and one sister-in-law, Donna Heckert of Alexandria. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews, Robin (and John) Bratvold and family of Mason City, Iowa, Julie Paquette and family of Faribault, Jim (and Ann) Heckert of Faribault, Scott Heckert and family of Alexandria, Jodi Elness and family of Brainerd, Deb (and Christian) DeVries and family of Peoria, Arizona, Nicole Pulsifer and family of Spicer, Bill (and Lori) Carlson and family of New London and Kristin (and Nick) Dalton and family of New London.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Jane in 2010; two brothers, Alquin in 2019 and Jerry in 2016; and a sister-in-law, Joye in 2012.