Joseph M. Heilman
March 6, 2017Joseph Michael Heilman, 67, formerly of Logansport, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven Monday evening at the Ossian Health & Rehabilitation Center, Ossian, Indiana, surrounded by loved ones, ending his ten year battle with a devastating disease.
Born in Evansville in 1949, Joseph married his college sweetheart, Deborah (Simmons) Heilman in 1971 (Logansport) and spent the next 45 years cherishing her every day as she tenderly devoted her life to taking care of him.
The cross Joseph had to bear took the form of Parkinson’s Disease. The horrific disease seized his body, but never took his spirit.Joe’s faithful soul brought endless smiles to all who cared for him along his journey.He was a hero and an inspiration to many.He fought an amazing fight and affectionately became known as our energizer bunny because he never gave up. Ever.
Surviving are Joseph’s wife, Deborah, daughter, Jennifer (Jim) Cole; grandchildren, Zachary, Brian, and Emily; daughter, Michelle (Chad) Creager; grandchildren Evan, Jacob, Brady, and Katherine; son Aaron (Kerri) Heilman and granddaughter Elizabeth.
Also surviving are sisters, Sally (Rick) Clements, Suzan Thoren, Christa (Mike) Williams, Colleen (Bob) Onyett, Nicci (Jim) Thomasma, Sister-in-law Sandra (Ron) Tunis and lots of nieces and nephews that loved Uncle Joey.
Preceding him in death by his mother, Mary (Gore) Heilman, father, George Heilman; Mother-in-law Martha (Krueckeberg) Simmons and father-in-law Robert Simmons.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9th at Kroeger Funeral Home, with an additional visitation one hour before the funeral services on Friday March 10, also at Kroeger Funeral Home.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 10th, at All Saint’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m., with Clayton Thompson officiating.
Full interment will be in Ever-Rest Memorial Park.
Memorials may be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
