Donald H. Heckard, 88, Logansport, passed away at 8:36 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2013, at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Indianapolis, from injuries he received in a recent fall.

Born June 19, 1924, in Cass County, Don was the son of the late John Harvey Heckard and the late Ruth Mae Grauel Heckard. On Sept. 15, 1974, in Cass County, he was married to Bonnie (Raver) Heckard. She preceded him in death June 3, 2008.

A 1942 graduate of Logansport High School, Don was a lifelong farmer in Noble Township with a great love for his land. He owned and operated Logan City Ice Company from 1973 to 2006. For 19 years, Don sold securities for Investors Diversified Services.

A member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, Don had served as a deacon, an elder, a trustee and a Sunday school teacher. He was also a 50+ year member of Logansport’s Tipton Masonic Lodge.

For five years he served on the Ivy Tech Community College board of directors and continued that alliance by serving on the Ivy Tech state board of directors for 10 years, two of which he served as board chairman. Don was passionate about the role Ivy Tech Community College would play in Indiana and he worked tirelessly for seven years as a director for the Ivy Tech Foundation.

Don was active and had a deep love for his country. From 1979 to 1990 he served as a Cass County councilman. He was well known throughout the state as the Cass County Republican chairman for four years, the 2nd District Republican chairman from 1972 to 1980, the 5th District Republican chairman for five years, a delegate of the National Republican Convention in 1976, a delegate of the Indiana State Convention 13 times and the presidential elector for George W. Bush in 2000. Don’s background in agriculture led him to the position of state chairman of Farmers for Ford. He was named Sagamore of the Wabash twice, once by Gov. Otis Bowen and then later by Gov. Robert Orr.

Don enjoyed attending sporting events and was a big Purdue University fan. He was an avid reader and he enjoyed traveling. Don enjoyed the time spent with family and friends. He also enjoyed the fellowship with his Monday morning Bullshippers Breakfast club, his domino group and the Wednesday Night Happy Burger Dinner Club.

Surviving are one daughter, Nancy Rhodes and her husband John of Logansport; two sons, Stephen Heckard and his wife Dawn of Valparaiso and Tom Heckard of Logansport; three stepdaughters, Lois (Dennis) Hogerheide of Naples, Fla., Carole (Philip) Erlandson of Indianapolis and Elaine (Don) Wood of Palo Alto, Calif.; stepson, Bruce (Vaneen) Ide of Logansport; 13 grandchildren, Andrew (Lisa) VanZee, Heidi VanZee, Adam VanZee, Seth Heckard, Jordan (Megan) Heckard, Kelsey (Chris) Swisher, Seth (Molly) Corcoran, Michelle Jones, Denise (Gene) Rebeor, Clark (Shana) Ide, James Ide, Anna Wood and Christie Wood; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marjorie Bishop of Logansport and Mary Margaret (L.J.) Powlen of Hagerstown, Md.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Calvary Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Doug Mankell officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Fisher Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Expressions of sympathy may best be made with a memorial contribution to Calvary Presbyterian Church, the Ivy Tech Foundation or the Cass County Community Foundation in the name of the Heckard Family Scholarship.

You may light a candle of hope in memory of Don, share condolences and memories in his online guest book and view his video tribute at fisherfuneral chapel.com.