Frank Charles Heller Sr., 83, passed away June 19, 2015, at Aurora Hospital in Green Bay.
Frank was born in Bonduel on Jan. 27, 1932, the son of the late Alfred and Hildegard (Boettcher) Heller. While in grade school, Frank helped operate the family homestead. While attending Bonduel High School, he took great interest in the agricultural classes and applied what he had learned to improve the quality of his herd as well as the soil on the farm. After his father’s death in 1957, he purchased the family farm. Through time, he purchased additional acreage from neighboring farms. He took pride in his farm, having been homesteaded by his great-grandfather, Wm. Heller in 1864.
On June 12, 1965, Frank was united in marriage to Mildred (Heuer) Scray, a former Bonduel High School classmate. To this union were born Frank Jr. and Connie Rae, as well as stepchildren Judy (Scray) Hernke and Gary Scray. Frank was president or vice president of the Bonduel FFA Alumni for 10 years, a fire chief for over 20 years and a member of the Bonduel Conservation Club for over 40 years. He helped start the Bonduel Civic Association in 1971 and the Bonduel baseball team in 1951, which he served as the secretary/treasurer for many years. Frank was the supervisor for the town of Hartland for many years. He enjoyed outdoor sports, including sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago in February, with his group of friends from Bonduel, and deer hunting in his own woods. His favorite indoor sport was bowling, and he was inducted in the Shawano/Bonduel Bowling Hall of Fame in 1991. He was the director of this association for 33 years. After Frank experienced many surgeries and health issues, the dairy cows were sold at auction on April 14, 2001.
Frank was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served on the school board for six years.
Frank is survived by his son, Frank C. (April Andrews) Heller Jr.; his daughter, Connie (Mike) Babino; his grandchildren, Ashley (Billy Pownell), Amber, Adam, Abbi and Ajay Heller; his great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Willow Pownell. He is further survived by his brother, Donald, and his sister, Darlene Heller.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; his parents; and siblings, Kenneth and Alfred Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bonduel with the Rev. Mark R. Palmer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at Swedberg-Wendt Funeral Home in Bonduel on Monday, June 22, 2015, from 4-8 p.m. and again at the church on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
