Obituary of Herschel Leslie Heimbigner

Herschel Leslie Heimbigner passed away peacefully in his sleep Wednesday December 2nd. He was 93. Hersh was born on the family wheat farm just west of Ritzville on December 7th, 1921. After graduating from Ritzville High he left for Cheney with an interest in industrial arts, but his plans were interrupted by WWII. Hersh served in the 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, 37th Division, Company B seeing action in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Luzon, and Manila. He earned the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star. On January 13, 1945, 2 weeks after returning from war, he married his sweetheart Lorene Deife. While living in Ritzville he worked at Gearhart Ford as an auto mechanic, then owned the Mobile service station until he took over the family farm in 1963. After retirement in 1984 he and Lorene loved taking trips around the U.S. in their RV and spending time with friends they met through Thousand Trails and the Farm Journal. Hersh was well known for his volunteer service in Ritzville, working tirelessly for the VFW, NW Blood Center, FFA, Congregational Church, and the fire district. Hersh was a wonderful friend, father, and grandfather who will be greatly missed by his family: sons Ross, Bruce, and Rod and daughters-in-law Jill, Laurie, and Kandy, 9 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorene and son Greg. Visitation will be Friday December 18, 2015 from 12 Noon to 5;00 PM at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville. Funeral Services will be held Monday December 21, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Zion Philadelphia UCC in Ritzville and followed by burial at Ritzville Memorial Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Zion Philadelphia UCC or Adams County Fire District, both in Ritzville. Condolences may be left at www.danekasfh.com