Eleanor Ann Heckendorn

Eleanor Heckendorn, born May 30 1937 in Newton, KS, died June 8th 2022 in Eagle, Idaho. The daughter of Martha M. and the Rev. Dr. David C. Wedel, her early life revolved around music and faith. At 17, she was baptized into the Mennonite church. In 1955, she married Arnold Heckendorn, her beloved husband for 65 years. For the next 25 years, she focused on rearing four children and supporting Arnold’s career. After the last son’s college graduation, she returned to college and earned a Bachlors Degree from the University of Phoenix. She worked for the avionics division of Honeywell, representing them for clients including Boeing and Airbus. She loved traveling, especially her business trips to Europe. After her retirement, she and Arnold traveled the U.S. with their RV to see their nine grandchildren and volunteer as camp hosts at several Idaho State Parks. They lived in Sun City AZ for twenty years, where she enjoyed singing in the choir, serving on the worship and music committee at Willowbrook United Methodist Church. She played violin and was Vice President of the Sun City Community Orchestra and did silver work. In 2019, she and Arnold moved to Eagle, ID. She was predeceased by Arnold in January 2021, and is survived by her four children, Cris Vallee (Don), Deb Dillner (Doug), Steve Heckendorn (Kristen), and Frank Heckendorn, as well as her eight granddaughters and one grandson.