John H. Heller Obituary (1934 - 2013)

John H. Heller, 79, of Bloomington, died at 8:24 p.m. Thursday, August 22, 2013 at his home.His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2013 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal, with Monsignor Eric S. Powell officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Merna. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2013 at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, where the rosary will be recited at 1:45. Additional visitation will be for " hour prior to services Monday at the church.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Epiphany Catholic Church or Central Catholic High School.John was born January 28, 1934 in Bloomington, the son of Coke and Madeline Hopt Heller. He married Barbara Matusek on July 27, 1957 at Albany, New York. She survives.Also surviving are his children, Mary (Tony) Tripeny of Corning, NY and David (Kay) Heller of Cypress, TX; five grandchildren, Matthew Goforth and Katie Goforth, both of Bentonville, AR, Katheryn and Nico Tripeny, both of Corning, NY and William Heller of Cypress, TX; a daughter-in-law, Kelli Heller of Bloomington; a son-in-law, Greg Goforth of Bentonville, AR; a brother, Bill (Gloria) Heller of Normal; a sister, Patricia Kelley of Normal; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Patricia Heller in infancy and Susan Goforth; and one son, Michael Heller.John attended a one-room school across the road from his home in rural Towanda. There were thirteen students in the school in grades one through eight.After graduation from Trinity High School in Bloomington in 1951, he attended the University of Notre Dame, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.The following November he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a member of the Corps of Engineers at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, where he met his wife Barbara. While in Texas he also pursued a law degree at St. Marys University.When he was released from the Army in 1958, John was hired as an engineer by the McLean County Highway Department. He was Assistant Superintendent of Highways from 1965 to 1998, when he retired. John and his brother Bill had a 50-year partnership farming in the Towanda and Merna areas, in addition to being co-owners of the Fletcher Grain Elevator in Fletcher, Illinois. He retired from these ventures in 2007.He was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal and a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Bloomington.John was an avid reader and a devoted fan of the Notre Dame, the Chicago Bears and Fox News. He was a loving, generous and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. His dry wit and eclectic knowledge will always be remembered and cherished.To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.