Willis R Heyen

In Loving Memory Of
Willis R. Heyen

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Seward with Fr. Christopher Barak officiating. A Rosary will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday prior to the mass at the church. Burial will be in Blue Mound Cemetery with military services conducted by the Milford American Legion and the Nebraska National Guard. Visitation will be on Monday, July 6, from noon - 9pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford with the family greeting relatives and friends from 7-9 pm at the funeral home. Memorials have been established to the Milford Schools Foundation or American Legion Post #171 in Willis' memory.

Willis Richard Heyen was born November 19, 1928 near Milford, Nebraska to Claus H. and Myrtle (Bloodhart) Heyen and passed away, Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at Sunrise Country Manor near Milford at the age of 86 years, 7 months and 12 days. As a young boy, he attended country school east of Milford and graduated with the class of 1945 from Milford High School. He furthered his education at Lincoln School of Business where he studied bookkeeping. Willis was united in marriage to Lois F. Siedhoff on September 4, 1950 in Crete, Nebraska and to this union four children, Richard, Larry, Frances and Kyle were born.

The couple established their residence in Milford and remained in the Milford area all of their married life. Willis was employed at Rolfsmeier Motors of Seward for 28 years prior to establishing Heyen Tax and Accounting in Milford in 1979. Willis was very active in Milford affairs, serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for 6 years, on the City Council for 7 years and as Mayor for 16 years. He enlisted in the Nebraska National Guard at Seward in 1949, earned a commission and became the company commander for a period of 8 years. He advanced to the position of Adjutant of the 67th Infantry Brigade and was promoted to the rank of Major. Willis retired from the National Guard after 21 years. He was a life-member of both the National Guard Association of Nebraska and the National Guard Association of the United States. Willis was also a member of American Legion Post 171 at Milford for 30 years and served as Post Commander for 12 years. He was a member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church.

As a young man he enjoyed outdoor activities and later he and Lois enjoyed trips to Europe, Mexico and every one of the 50 states. Willis enjoyed life and was happiest when he was working. He was very outgoing, knew no stranger, greeting everyone as a new friend and had a recognizable and contagious laugh.

Willis is survived by his children and spouses, Richard (Rick) and Janene Heyen, Otoe, Larry and Donna Heyen, Pleasant Dale, Frances Erb, Milford, and Kyle Heyen and his wife, Traci Comstock, Council Bluffs, IA; seven grandchildren and spouses, Karen and Brian Thompson, Syracuse, Keith and Allyson Heyen, Stuttgart Germany, Brent Heyen, Columbus, Mandy Lundstrom, Brooklyn, NY, Lindsey and Matthew Sample, Pleasant Dale, Damon and Angie Erb, Littleton, CO, Emma Heyen, Council Bluffs, IA, ten great-grandchildren, Andrew, Conner, and Abigail Thompson, William and Archer Heyen, Hailey England, Addison and Easton Sample, Tanner and Caydence Erb; foster children and spouses, Sandy (Blanco) and Gregg Anderson, Lincoln, Tonia (Blanco) and Mark Buss, Beatrice, and Deborah Blanco, also of Lincoln; brother and sisters-in-law, Boyd and Mildred Heyen, Milford, Mrs. Robert (Nona) Heyen, Seward, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Marlene and John Bals, Crete, Carol Jones, Bloomington, IL, John and Betty Siedhoff, Averil Park, NY, Francis and Peggy Siedhoff, Crete, Jayne Sainz, Ashland, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lois in 2004, his sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Harlan Kenney and his brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Delores Heyen, Leo and Bernice Heyen, LaVerna Heyen, brother-in-law, Diego Sainz,