Obituaries

Florence Heck, 93, Perry, IA

Mass of the Christian Burial has been set for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. The burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery near Minburn, IA. Visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. will be at Murdock Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Following the visitation, a Delta Kappa Gamma service will be held. A Rosary will be said on Saturday, July 15, 2023, 4:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Church in her memory. Florence passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Perry Lutheran Home Kings Garden. Memorials will be directed to the St. Patrick Regina Guild, in Florence’s name. Online condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhome.net.

Florence Hazel (Bruner) Heck was born on October 1, 1929, in Pine Lawn, Mo (St. Louis County). Her parents were Elmer Franklin Bruner and Adele (Nuelle) Bruner. Florence attended school first through twelfth grade in Koshkonong, MO. After graduation, Florence attended college at Southwest Missouri State, Springfield, MO. She took a break from college and married Melford Gerald Heck on June 15, 1957. To this marriage, six children were born, Ervin, Elizabeth, Edward, Stephen, Janet, and Tom. She went back to college in 1969, to Springfield, and finished her bachelor’s degree in education.

Throughout their marriage, they lived in Rochester, MN, Pine Island, MN, then moved back to Grandpa Heck’s farm East of Berkley, IA. From there farming took them to Dexter, IA from 1968 until 1972. Then moved to the home they shared for 50 years at 515 Warford St, Perry, IA.

Throughout her teaching career, she taught for two years at Sacred Heart School in Thayer, IA. She then taught for three years at Couch Consolidated (first grade) Couch, MO. From there, she then spent four years at Army Post School building in Des Moines, IA. Florence spent the last 22 years of her teaching career with Perry Community School District. She taught in all three elementary buildings, first grade, then the final eight years in kindergarten before retiring in June 1991.

Florence and her husband, Melford enjoyed traveling to Missouri, Florida, and California to see family, they also loved Playing cards with friends, entertaining friends, and co-workers for the holidays. She always looked forward to the holidays, her favorite time of the year when she would open “The Heck Candy Kitchen” as it was called, Thanksgiving weekend with Chocolate covered Cherries being made. For the next three weeks, Florence and daughter, Janet, would spend countless hours making hundreds of pounds of candy. Her daughter, Elizabeth, would come on weekends to assist in making candy and baking cookies. When complete, trays filled with candy and cookies were made, labeled, and delivered to family, co-workers, and friends. After arthritis would not allow Florence to continue, Janet and her daughter Michelle took over this 50 plus year family tradition.

Florence was very active in all the community groups she belonged to, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Regina Guild, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (40 years), Nuw Alpha Gamma Chapter, Dallas County area retired school personnel-Charter member 1992, when she was the first president. Florence received the Perry Mother of the Year award in 1979.

Florence is preceded in death by Husband, Melford Heck, infant grandson Adrian Heck, her parents, two sisters, Alice Cook and Dorothy Ball, an infant brother and infant sister, son-in-law, and sister-in-law.

Florence is survived by six children, Ervin (Deanna) Heck of Madrid IA, Elizabeth (Steve) Poock of Readlyn IA, Edward Heck of Fort Worth, TX, Stephen (Angie) Heck of Perry IA, Janet Hick of Perry IA, Tom (Dawn) Heck of Madrid IA; 18 grandchildren and step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and step-great- grandchildren; one brother, Virgil Bruner and his friend Marge of Lewisburg, MO, numerous nieces and nephews, many cousins, and friends.