Margaret Heckman

Margaret A. "Marge" Heckman, 64, a resident of rural Albion, died at 6:00 p. m. on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the family residence north of Wolf Lake. She had been in failing health for the past two years, and had been seriously ill for the past month. Mrs. Heckman was born in Salamanca, New York on March 2, 1945, a daughter of Ray and Ann (Smith) Shroyer. She spent her formative years in Fort Wayne, and graduated from Central High School in 1963. She attended IPFW and graduated from Indiana Tech in 1979. Throughout her adult life she had always worked in the nursing home field, and was the office manager at the former Oak Leaf Village in Ligonier for six years. After the nursing home changed ownership, she became the social services and admissions director of Avalon Village Nursing Home in Ligonier for a year, retiring due to ill health. She was a member of Bear Lake Ministries, and was a past state nursing home activities director of the year. In her leisure time she enjoyed camping, singing in church, and most especially loved and cherished her family. The surviving relatives include her husband James W. Heckman; her children Darla Strowmatt of Churubusco, Mike (Sonya) Keller of Columbia City, David (Pam) Keller of Morganton, N.C., and Margie (John) Schwartz of Lake Elsinore, Calif; her mother Ann Shroyer of Albion; a sister Sharon Schaefer of Avilla; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father on March 7, 1994. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Monday, April 27, 2009, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Pastors Bill Cupp and Monte Harlan, officiating. The family will receive friends at the mortuary on Saturday from 4 to 8 p. m. and on Sunday from 4 to 8 p. m. Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Bear Lake Ministries Camp Fund. **************************************** To leave a condolence for the family in Mrs. Heckman's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .