William (Bill) J. Heckenkemper November 7, 1929 – May 1, 2018

Another magnificent lion of our community left home for good on May 1, 2018.

Our Dad, was an original "OKIE" from Muskogee and has the Governor's certificate to prove it. He was the oldest of 3 children, born to William John and Peggy Heckenkemper. After moving to Tulsa as a young child, he later met Barbara Bradley and they married in 1952. For nearly 63 years of marriage they were a true TEAM in every sense of the concept. It's very hard to mention one of them without mentioning the other. It's always "Mom & Dad", "Bill and Barbara" or "PapaBill & GG". Together they developed a system for their life and family and it worked! During their marriage, they raised 6 loving and caring children, who blessed them with 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Dad was always a deeply religious and pious man, for whom his faith and Church served as the bedrock for his life. He was actively involved in his family, Church and community. Dad and Mom were parishioners at Christ the King Church for over 60 years.

While raising their children, Dad and Mom constantly made time to be involved in countless projects benefitting Marquette Catholic School and Christ the King. One of Dad's favorite programs was the Adopt-A-Student program at Marquette. He spent years coaching countless youth baseball, softball, football and basketball teams, providing a positive role model to hundreds of kids. Many of those kids still call him "Coach". All of this with Mom's help, support and organization.

Nearly 60 years ago, part of that effort included their vision and organization with other dedicated parents, parishioners and members of the religious, who together spearheaded the establishment of Bishop Kelley High School, to promote a faith based education for their children and others to follow. Later in the 1970's they continued working another small but dedicated group to acquire and begin initial development of the Bishop Kelley athletic fields.

Their teamwork allowed Dad to be involved in many other projects from physically helping to build the Bishop Kelley baseball field in the early 1970's to his help with the oversight for construction of the Mary, Queen of Peace Chapel and the ECDC building and gym as part of the Church's Vision '89 and Legacy 2005 campaigns.

Dad and Mom's teamwork and the projects, resulted in his induction to the Christ the King Catholic Church's Hall of Fame and to the Bishop Kelley Hall of Fame, in recognition for the abundant contributions of time and talent, which he was only able to provide with Mom's support.

Dad was also a gifted businessman with a keen accounting and tax background. This expertise allowed him to be involved in a multitude of business and community projects; including being part of a select group who helped Governor Bartlett reform the Oklahoma tax code in the late 1960's.

Later in life, he especially relished his pilgrimage to the Vatican and Saint Peter's Basilica; and, his journey to Germany to meet family members he discovered researching his family's heritage.

He was predeceased by his parents, his daughter, Kathy and her husband Jim Schooley.

He is survived by his: children, Mary Ritchie (Tom), Jeff, Randy (Patty), Keith (Marianne) and Brad (DeAnn); grandchildren, Meredith Ritchie, Scott Ritchie, 2nd Lt. Thomas Ritchie (Kaylie), Kristen Ritchie, Cole, Grant, Kymberli, Kate, Will (Laura), J.P. Szafranski (Maggie), Ryan Clain (Casey), Allison Filenko (Taras), Max (Stephanie); and great grandchildren, Matthew, Ben, A.J, Luke and Jack Szafranski; Greyson, Owen and Ashton Zellers; Lillian and Merrin Filenko; and Ethan and Madelyn Heckenkemper.

The Family would like to send a special thanks to D. Shaun G. (you know who you are) who often went above and beyond the norm to provide excellent care with compassion. THANK YOU! The Family would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the many health providers and caregivers who lovingly and patiently helped Dad during the last few months at Oklahoma Methodist Manor.

Rosary will be said Thursday, May 3rd, 7:00 p.m., and Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 4th, 11:00 a.m., both at Christ the King Catholic Church, 16th and South Quincy, in Tulsa.

Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151