NEW CASTLE
Our family lost a great man on April 6, 2018. Warner Martin Heckley was born April 8, 1941, in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Winchester High School. He then put himself through college and received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Tri-State College. While working in Ohio as an Engineer, he met the love of his life, Teresa Sharleen Heckley. They were married June 2, 1968, and would have celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. They had two children, Laura Elaine and Brian Lee. A job change in 1982 brought the family from Ohio to New Castle, Indiana, where he worked as an Engineer at Modernfold for many years. In later years, he was an elder at the First Christian Church in New Castle, Indiana.
A fighter, he was given 6 months to live from leukemia cancer in 1996 and volunteered to be part of a drug trial for Gleevec which ultimately saved his life. Because of this medicine, he could see his kids get married and have kids of their own, each grandchild a highlight of his life.
He loved people and loved to talk to people. His lifelong ability to be more interested in other people than in himself was what endeared them to him. He loved sports and never missed a game his child was in. He loved fishing, Hot Rod cars (his 1939 Chevy especially), and spending quality time with his wife and family. It was what he lived for. He was a great example of how to live your life – joyfully, with courage, forgiveness, humor, and always having his priorities straight by putting family first – which he always did.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris Martin and Velma Grace (Weinland) Heckley, and siblings – Lantha Heckley Crain, and Kent Heckley.
He is survived and greatly missed by his wife, Teresa Sharleen Heckley, his children, Laura (Mike) Dolence, Brian (Michelle) Heckley, his grandchildren, Emlyn, Hannah, and Sophia Dolence and Christine Heckley, as well as his brother-in-law, Jim Crain and sister-in-law Mary Heckley. He was great friends with Troy Laramer and was a grandfather to Troy’s son Noah as well. He will forever be in our hearts and will forever be loved.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday April 11, 2018, at Hinsey Brown Funeral Service in New Castle with Pastor Alecia Gross officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Cambridge City. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society, 5635 W. 96th St., Ste 100, Indianapolis, IN 46278, or the New Castle Humane Society, 11 Midway Dr., New Castle, IN 47362, where they rescued several pets. You may express condolences or share a memory of Warner at www.hinsey-brown.com.
