Obituaries
David Garber Heckel, Sr., 91
September 02, 2024
David G. Heckel, Sr. of Lititz, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of his family on Monday, September 2, 2024, Labor Day. He was the son of Frank P. Heckel and Mary Garber Heckel. He was the beloved husband of the late Edith Spalding Heckel, with whom he will celebrate 70 years of marriage on Sept. 11th.
Dave grew up in Lancaster, graduated from Manheim Twp. High School, class of 1950. He went on to Penn State University, graduating in 1954. He was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the last Frothy (Jester) to the Nittany Lion and a ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate. He served two years active duty during the Korean Conflict and six years in the Army Reserves as Company Commander of the 475th Quartermaster Group Headquarters, York, PA.
Dave joined the family business Penn Dairies in Lancaster, founded by his grandfather, Eli Garber. He served the company for 40 years in senior management positions in York, Harrisburg and Lancaster. Wherever he lived, he was a leader of his church and community. In York, he was president of the York Jaycees, State Director of the PA Jaycees, Senator of the International Jaycees and an Elder and Trustee of the Eastminister Presbyterian Church. In Harrisburg, he was president of the Westshore Rotary Club, Chairman of the West Shore YMCA, President of the Fairview Elementary School PTA and Secretary of the West Shore Toastmasters Club. In Lancaster, he was Chairman of Lancaster SCORE, President of The Lititz Moravian Church Trustees and a member of their choir. He served as a trustee of Linden Hall School for Girls and was a member of their Executive Board. As a member of Highland Presbyterian Church, he served as a Trustee for six years. As a member of The Lancaster Rotary Club serving as president for a number of years and having 44 years of service with perfect attendance. He was recently honored as a Life Time Rotarian. Dave was known for his sense of humor and quick wit. He was the past Chief of the Pirates, a member of MOAA and a former member of The Hamilton Club. Dave lived the life of “Service Above Self”.
His professional associations included PA Assoc. of Milk Dealers, Keystone Ice Cream Assoc., International Bottled Water Assoc. and PA Motor Truck Assoc.
Dave, along with his family, enjoyed his 8-acre farmette located at Kissel Hill. He spent many years restoring his 18th century barn, house, and summer kitchen. A picture of the barn appeared on many magazine covers, calendars, Christmas cards, and was included in the book, “Barns of North America.” During the 50 plus years, this farmette was home to horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, goats, geese, ducks, chickens, peacocks, turkeys and swans. Dave was a talented Do-It-Yourself worker in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. He along with a student architect (now world renown), designed and built a pavilion, much used many years for family and friend gatherings. Dave was a great history buff and enjoyed doing family genealogical research, creating extensive family trees for numerous sides of his family.
He is survived by four children: Pamela Whallon, wife of Peter Whallon, Lancaster, Mary Welk, wife of the late Curtis Welk, Sarah Summers (Sally), wife of Robert Summers and David Heckel, Jr., husband of Melanie (Miller) Heckel, all of Lititz. Dave was an amazing grandfather to 10 grandchildren: Leah Rude (David), Carrie Redgate (Scott), Olivia Pollock (Tyler), Colleen Corcoran (Patrick), Morgan Heckel, Molly Welk (Cory), Adam Welk, Anna Summers, David Heckel III and Zachary Welk. He was the proud great grandfather of Micah and Penny Redgate, Owen Pollock and Maya Welk and excitedly anticipated the arrival of two more.
Dave will be laid to rest at Moravian Cemetery, 212 E. Main St., Lititz, PA 17543 on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1 PM. Following, the family invites guests to a visitation at the Lititz Moravian Church at 1:45 PM until the time of service at 3 PM. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed via livestream at lititzmoravian.org/heckle-memorial-service/.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Masonic Village Hospice or Lititz Moravian Church Book of Remembrance.
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Condolences to the Family
September 09, 2024
Dear Heckel family,
I was sorry to learn of your father’s passing. I admired both your father and mother and am glad you were a complete family far into their golden years. My affiliation with them was mostly through Lititz Moravian and the Lititz Historical Foundation. Their obituaries were beautiful tributes about their full lives. They were loving and good parents and grandparents and great-grandparents to all of you. May the memories that you have in your minds and hearts abate your present grief and be treaasures in the years to come.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Deann Buffington
September 09, 2024
Dave,
Just heard about your Dad. Had not seen him in years, but remember he always was great to talk with. Thinking of you and your family.
Chris
September 08, 2024
Pam, Mary, David and Sally
please forgive me I cannot be in attendance today. I am in Houston.
Pam / Sally thank you both so much for your phone call although I wish it was under considerably better circumstances
this is an extraordinary loss and my heart goes out to each one of you
Could I ask the four of you – to send me your email addresses and contact information
gjones@pcparch.com
thank you
Gregg Jones
September 08, 2024
Dear Heckel family,
I had the pleasure of knowing Dave thru Lancaster Farmland Trust and I believe our horse Merlin spent his last years in Dave’s care on the farm. A wonderful man. Blessings and deepest condolences.
David Miller
September 07, 2024
Dear Pam, Mary, Sally and David,
Thank you, Sally for the call. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for your loss. I met your dad in fourth grade at Brecht school. Milt and I have had many good times with your parents over the years. I will not be able to come to the service but am happy it will be streamed. Love to all your families.
Lois Morgan
September 07, 2024
Sally,
John and I and our whole family are very sorry for your loss. The remarkable devotion and care you gave to both your parents was a priceless gift of love and comfort to them, and speaks volumes about your strength and kindness. While no words can truly ease the pain of loss, I hope you find peace in knowing you were there for them particularly when they were most vulnerable, and you are comforted by the many joyful memories you shared.
Our deepest condolences to you during this time.”
Kathleen and John
September 06, 2024
Dear Heckels,
“Okaaaayy”, that is the exclamation I remember hearing during one of my first days at Penn Dairy, 32 years ago. I was sitting in the open space of the sales rep’s, with these half high booths, dividing our little sales territories at the plant. On my right were two offices, one for the Marketing Director and one for the Sales Director.
But next to it was the real world of number crunching to calculate and strategize raw material prices in a very competitive dairy and ice cream market. It was Dave’s realm. His door was always open. It wasn’t hard to listen in on some of his commercial conversations, because where ever Dave was in the house, all could hear his leadership voice.
Sometimes he was quiet, for hours. Then we all knew he was chewing on an important task such as milk price computations. When he was content with the result of his work he would just say out loud for all to hear: “Okaaaayyy”. Sometimes followed by a restrained laugh, after a brief pause. With a smile from ear to ear, as we all remember.
Dave was far more than ‘Okay’ to us, in fact to me he felt like my ‘American Dad’, the same way Edie felt like my ‘American Mum’. He reached out almost immediately, when I had just moved from the Netherlands to Lancaster, to come work as an Account Manager at Penn Dairy, or Kemps Foods at the time. I landed here on my own, being and feeling alone. It was before Caroline, with whom I had recently married, could join me to share an important period in our lives and the start of our family.
Dave and Edie ‘adopted’ me, ‘adopted’ us. He invited me for a Sunday lunch after church at the Bit by Bit Farm, which would be followed by many more family moments together. Your family became my family. Early on Dave also took us for a spin across the pretty Amish Dutch countryside and pointed out special places. And Edie, with her daughters, staged the Baby Shower for Caroline. You were the first ones to know that my son Daniel was born.
After moving back to Europe we paid several visits over the years, with our kids Daniel, Steven and Jules to Lancaster County, meeting with you, Dave, Edie, Heckel sibs and grandchildren. Jules has been vacationing with you, David and Melanie. Recently Jules and Morgan went to a Taylor Swift concert in Amsterdam and had dinner at Caroline’s.
Last Sunday I spent several hours with Dave and Sally at the Farm. Senior had an American flag-blanket, he looked vulnerable and at the same time proud, like an American Hero. We held hands, shared some dear and fun moments throughout the years – some of which invited him to show a little bit of his ear to ear smile.
We are sad he passed away. But we will forever carry all these memories, special moments with your Dad, our American Dad, our Dave, with us, with gratefulness and love.
We are thinking of you and wish you all the strength in saying farewell, we wish you good courage. Dave deserves a special place among American Heroes – he is certainly one of ours!
May he rest in peace and may his legacy live forth in you, his children and grandchildren. Or as it is said in the Jewish tradition: ‘May his memory be a blessing!’
Much love, on behalf of the Douwes bunch, the real Dutch, in the Netherlands,
Peter
September 06, 2024
Dave, So Sorry to hear of your father’s passing.Prayers for you and your family.🙏🏻🙏🏻
Louis Pistella
September 05, 2024
Dave–I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your father. My thoughts are with you and your family. Patty Rollin
September 05, 2024
Cindy and I are very sorry for your loss. I know that all of you were very close. Sending prayers and blessings to the entire family. Dave and Cindy Farmer
September 05, 2024
Sorry for your father-in-laws passing my condolences to you and Dave prayers are with you
Denise OBrassill
September 04, 2024
Sally/Heckel Family-
Words of sympathy feel inadequate in expressing grief and sorrow for a loss so great. Sending a warm embrace and all my love during this sad time. Quite a few of my fondest childhood memories involve the Heckle family and the time I spent in your home. Your father was a remarkable man and I will always cherish the kindness he showed me. You are all in my prayers during this difficult time.
Cindy Sipe Klahold
- Visitation
- Sunday, September 08, 2024
- 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
- Lititz Moravian Church
- 8 Church Square
- Lititz, PA 17543
- Map and Directions
-
Get Maps and Directions > - Services
- Sunday, September 08, 2024
- 3:00 PM
- Lititz Moravian Church
- 8 Church Square
- Lititz, PA 17543
- Map and Directions
-
Get Maps and Directions >
