William (Bill) Heidinger passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 91 years of age. Bill will be remembered as a devoted family man with a zest for life, always ready for a new adventure.

Bill was born in 1923 in Chicago, Illinois, the first child for Henry and Mathilda Heidinger. The family soon moved back to Lampman, Saskatchewan where young Bill met the love of his life, Marguerite, when he was only 19 years old. In 1943 he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force, and the couple began a long-distance romance, as Bill learned the duties of a flight navigator. Eventually, Marguerite moved to Texas to be with Bill and the two were married in 1944. Bill was fortunate not to have seen active duty and, when the war ended, they moved back to Lampman to start their life together.

Bill held many titles through the years, including service station and Ford dealership owner, pilot, movie theatre operator, insurance agent, landlord, financial advisor, and bird watcher. His family teased him because he claimed to be retired, but never actually stopped working. Bill’s Catholic faith was very important to him, and he helped construct Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Lampman, and was an active member of the congregation. He was also a Fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Summers were spent at Kenosee Lake after Bill constructed a cabin in which to relax and enjoy weekends with the family – a tradition that continued for many years. Bill and Marg enjoyed square dancing, and travelled across southeast Saskatchewan to participate in dances. They loved to travel, and visited all corners of the world and experienced many exciting adventures. But for all their traveling, they most treasured the time spent with their family. They instilled in their heirs the importance of family, a trait which remains strong today.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Marguerite (Pothier) Heidinger; daughter Mona Hawkesford; brother Clement (Irene) Heidinger; sisters, Rita (Paul) Preusche and Eleanor (Allan) Hayes; parents, Henry and Mathilda (Fleck) Heidinger; sisters-in-law, Yvonne (Hugh) Warner and Fern (Murray) Pack; and Marguerite’s parents, Jean and Pauline Pothier.

He is survived by his son Harold (Dona) Heidinger; daughter Marilyn (Eric) Jenkins; son-in-law Calder Hawkesford; grandchildren, Peroline (Craig) McDougall, Colleen Hawkesford, Melodi Hawkesford-Lee (Keith Lee), Liesl Heidinger (Frazer Johnston) and Devin (Diana) Heidinger; great-grandchildren, Madeleine, Katherine, Nathan, Ronan, Kiera, Zachary and Jackson; and brother Edward (Doris) Heidinger.

An upstanding pillar of the community, a kind neighbour and a caring family patriarch, Bill was a unique man whose jovial sense of humour and warm personality made him a friend to all. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Celebrate Bill’s life with prayers and visitation on Monday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Hall Funeral Services, 1506 − 4th Street, Estevan, SK, and a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church, Lampman, SK. Rev. Leonardo Tamayo Jr. will be the celebrant, and interment will follow in the parish cemetery.

Those wishing to make donations in Bill’s memory may do so directly to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows R.C. Parish, Lampman, SK or a charity of choice.