Donald (Don) Joseph Heckenkamp Sr., age 91, of 600 Adams, died April 20, 2017 in Maple Lawn Nursing Home.
Born May 28, 1925, in Quincy to Joseph and Ethel (Requet) Heckenkamp, Don attended St. Mary’s Grade School, Quincy Academy and was a graduate of Quincy Notre Dame High School. He married Waneta (Neetz) Ludwig on January 23, 1947.
Following his return from active duty in the U.S. Army during World War II in the South Pacific, Don studied accounting at Gem City College. He worked at the family’s Tucker Automobile Dealership and at Heckenkamp Florist. The Florist, located at 6th & Adams, was also the site of the Heckenkamp family home built in 1870 where Don and Neetz lived since 1960. Don joined Brown Drug Company in 1950 serving as the company’s treasurer before retiring in 2003 after 53 years along with his wife, who also worked for the company for 40 years.
A local leader in the Democratic Party, Don served as the 7th Ward Alderman for the City of Quincy from 1963 to 1987 including a four-month stint in 1977 as Mayor Pro Tem. Upon his departure from the Council after 24 years of service, then Mayor Verne Hagstrom called Don “the most influential and powerful alderman in the city, and I mean that as a compliment.”
In addition to his notable service in city government, Don was an active leader in both the Quincy business and civic communities. Don served as President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, on the Board of Directors for the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce and the Quincy Convention and Visitors Bureau, President of Quincy Jaycees, Vice President of Illinois Jaycees, Treasurer of Exchange Club, Chairman of Quincy College President’s Forum, Co-founder of the Quincy Area Safety Council and Uptown Quincy. Don’s generous spirit and selfless service to Quincy earned him the Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds award in 1988.
Don was a lifetime member of the Quincy Boat Club. The Mississippi River was a second home for both Don and Neetz as they spent most weekends on the family houseboat aptly named the Pro-Tem. Once boating season ended, hunting season wasn’t far behind. Don was a long-time member of Ducks Unlimited. He enjoyed duck and goose hunting throughout central Illinois and in most recent years at the Sny Farm in Pike County. Always ready for adventure, Don enjoyed traveling across the United States with his family and was proud to have been one of the first local veterans to participate in the 2010 Great River Honor Flight.
Faith and family provided a strong foundation throughout Don’s life. He was a lifetime member of St. Mary’s Parish, now Blessed Sacrament. The family home at 6th & Adams has long been the gathering place for a host of celebrations with family and friends.
Don is survived by his wife of 70 years; three children, Tucker (Norma) Heckenkamp and Susan Robbearts of Quincy, Tina (Tom) Bergmann of Webster Groves, MO; five grandchildren, Edward (Emily) Robbearts of Quincy, Christina (Christopher) Schulte of St. Charles, MO, Catherine (Jeff) Eckerle of O’Fallon, MO, and Allison and Kayla Bergmann both of Webster Groves, MO; eight great-grandchildren, Grace, Georgia and Greta Robbearts of Quincy, Carter and Christian Schulte of St. Charles, MO and Ansley, Easton and Norah Eckerle of O’Fallon, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Elaine Heckenkamp Schmitt; and two brothers, Robert and Joseph (Bud) Heckenkamp.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 24, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Blessed Sacrament. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be on Sunday evening from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Great River Honor Flight, Quincy Park Band or Quincy Notre Dame.