Gary G. Heim of Middletown died at his home on April 29. He was born in Mexico (Audrain County) to Clark E. “Gene” and Juanita (Cunningham) Heim on August 21, 1943. He graduated from Van-Far High School in Vandalia in 1961. Heim had joined the US Navy reserve in September 1960 and spent two years in active service from 1962- 1964. He was attached to a service craft in Norfolk, serving as an engineman where he ultimately achieved the rank of EN2.
In 1964, Heim met Janet Kraftzeck of Wellsville. They were married on December 11, 1965. They became parents of two children, Lynette (Bruce) Bikos of Hillsboro, Ore., and Luke (Teresa Griffin) of Columbia.
Heim worked on the family farm, raising several specialty crops including white food grade corn, popcorn and soybean seed for DeKalb. Additionally, he sold federal crop insurance for 40 years.
During the 1970s, Heim enjoyed earning his private and commercial pilot licenses.
After retiring from the farm in 1999, he traveled extensively in the United States and internationally.
In retirement, he restored several trucks, classic cars and Honda Big Red three-wheelers. Enjoyable times were spent at many car shows.
Heim was a 50-plus year member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Masons. He was active in the Van-Far Alumni and Friends Scholarship Committee. He attended Central Union Church of Vandalia as a child, then served actively at Middletown United Methodist Church and, finally, First United Methodist Presbyterian Church of Montgomery City.
Heim was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother. Surviving are his wife, children and grandchildren, Natalie (Chad) Owens of Overland Park, Kan., Tinley Bikos of Washington, D. C., Lexi (Jack) Gordon of Saginaw, Mich., Trevor Bikos of Ashland, Ore., and Chase (Taylor) Heim of Lexington, Ky; AFS “son,” Gustavo (Isabel) Chacon, and two children from Cuenca, Ecuador; and sister-in-law, Carol (Richard) Oliver of Sun Prairie, Wis.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on May 9 at the First United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Montgomery City, with Reverend Lynn Quist officiating.
A visitation will be held that same day at the church, from 9 a.m.-10:45 a.m., with Masonic services beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Memorial gifts are suggested to the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri as well as Van-Far Alumni and Friends Alumni Scholarship Fund.
