Kenneth Heck Jr.

Kenneth Heck, 50, Mandan, passed away June 11, 2018 at CHI St. Alexius Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at First Lutheran Church, Mandan, ND with Rev. Lee Herberg as officiant. Inurnment will be at Mandan Union Cemetery following the service.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 15, 2018 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Weigel Funeral Home, with a Mandan Moose group service at 6:30 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Kenny was born on October 30, 1967 to Kenny Sr. and Judy (Sullivan) Heck in Bismarck, ND. He grew up in Mandan, graduating from Mandan High School. As the only boy in a family with three sisters, he developed a quick wit and great sense of humor; after all, a guy just has to pick on his sisters a little bit.   While it is certain that there were squabbles among the four, there was also a deep love and support that will help them all remember Kenny with joy and laughter.

The family had roots in Ft. Rice, North Dakota, so it is not surprising that when the opportunity arose, he moved to that town to live, and later it became the place for him to slip away, to leave behind his daily work in the sheet metal industry in order to hunt, fish, and spend time with friends.  One of his favorite places was “out in the hills”.  During his time living in Ft. Rice, Kenny became a first time dog-owner to Dakota.  They were devoted to one another.

Then Kenny met a girl.  More importantly, he met “a girl who likes to hunt and fish – maybe I should give this a try”.  When Kenny met Jennifer Wardner, he found his match; someone who did love to hunt and fish, could stand toe to toe in any game they played (particularly softball and darts), someone who could love as deeply and with as much devotion as he had.  Kenny and Jennifer were married on August 22, 2008.  Or perhaps we should say that Kenny, Jennifer, and Shayla were married on August 22, 2008.  They made their home in Mandan, with frequent trips to Ft. Rice to hunt together, to fish together, and to be family – together.

Kenny and Jennifer proudly parented Shayla; celebrating her accomplishments, guiding her choices, and teaching her all of the outdoor joys that a parent can hand along. He was especially proud to share with her his love of hunting.   If he had one regret in parenting it may have been the time when on a deer hunting trip, he “shoulda let Shayla shoot that big one”.

If you are going to talk about Kenny, you’ll certainly be talking about five things; fishing, hunting, friendships, softball, and darts. He was a man who “beat to his own drum” and was comfortable with himself being genuine and true as he walked in this world.  Kenny’s deep friendship with his partner-in-crime, Troy Metzger, is a great example of Kenny’s skill at being a good friend.  Kenny, Troy and Jerry Schumacher (also known as “the three amigos”) spent a lot of time together.  Doing what?  Hunting, fishing, and being friends.

Kenny will be deeply missed by his wife, Jennifer; their daughter, Shayla; his mother, Judy Heck; his sisters, Judy (Gerald) Schumacher, Laurie (Craig) Walcker, and Tina (Reid) Vogel, all of Mandan.  He will also be missed by his nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends (including Troy Metzger), and the Wardner and Aune families which he became part of through marriage.

Kenny was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Sr.; and mother-in-law, Karen Wardner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sporting Chance, a nonprofit organization providing outdoor opportunities for physically and mentally challenged adults and children.

Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook and view tribute photos.