Gordon Hecker

Gordon W. Hecker, 71, of Geneva Township died the morning of Saturday, June 9, 2012 at his South Haven home. He was born to Lawrence “Doc” and Lucille (DeWitt) Hecker in Nashville, Michigan on October 2, 1940. As a young man, Gordon was an adventurer and loved the outdoors. During his school years, he was an avid swimmer and tennis player competing in state finals and also took interest in theater. In 1958, Gordon graduated from Hastings High School and started undergraduate studies at Central Michigan University and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University. Gordon served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Okinawa, during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1968. During the 1970’s, Gordon took interest in carpentry and a “back to the land” way of living. His interest in preservation of the environment evolved into the study of water chemistry, and, by 1978, he successfully owned and operated Hastings Water Conditioning. Gordon’s passion for learning and reading led him to open a second business, a local Hastings bookstore, appropriately named “Discovery.” Gordon later transitioned to the lakeshore town of South Haven where he took pride in furniture finishing, helping to raise his two daughters, and eventual retirement. Throughout his life, Gordon had many additional interests including sailing his Salt-19 “Pug,” “homegrown” music, talking politics and religion, and his passion for genealogy and historical preservation inspired his contributions to Nashville’s Putnam Library and Historical Society.
Gordon is preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his mother – Lucille (DeWitt) Hecker of Hastings, his children – Kelly (Gerald) Jimmerson of Fennville and Leslie (Buck) Quinn of Coloma, three grandchildren – Oliver and Tristan Jimmerson and Millie Quinn, and former spouse – Kathy Crandall of Mendon, Michigan.
Graveside services will take place on June 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville.