Alice Maia Hecker

December 31, 1932 -October 21, 2020

Alice was born on New Year’s Eve 1932 in White Plains, New York to Robert Gardiner Stevens and Ruth Alice (McClain) Stevens. She grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. Her mother died when she was seven. In spite of this, she graduated from Mt Vernon High School as valedictorian in January 1951. She was in National Honor Society and active in her church youth group. During the summers she was a camp counselor for a Methodist church camp in New York.

She attended Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin becoming the 17th Stevens family member to attend. While at Lawrence, she pledged Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and volunteered at a local school, which had some children with disabilities. This interest led her to transfer to the University of Wisconsin at Madison to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy and she graduated with that degree in 1955. While there, she was involved in Hoofers, an outdoor adventure club. Also, on campus, she indulged in ice cream made by the dairy science school no matter what the weather. While at school, she met her husband, Fred Hecker at a social event. She became one of his favorite “groupies” as she followed him on weekends as he played the accordion in supper clubs and beer halls. The couple would eventually marry on October 20, 1956.

After graduating from college in 1955, Alice worked in occupational therapy with internships in Portland, Oregon; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Camarillo, California. After their wedding in Chicago, Illinois, the couple established residence in Indianapolis, Indiana. Alice worked for LaRue Carter Hospital for two years and then briefly for Methodist Hospital before focusing full time on her family. She lived her married life in Indiana, first in Indianapolis and then Carmel, except for a three-year period in Australia from 1963-1966.

Fred and Alice had four children Sharon (Tom) Kroll of Mishawaka, Indiana; Jon (Patricia) Hecker of Ellettsville, Indiana; Jamie (Suzanne) Hecker of Dunn Loring, Virginia and Andrew (Kerrie) Hecker of Edina, Minnesota. She is also a proud grandmother of 8 grandchildren, Andrew (deceased), Michael and Matthew Kroll; Benji and Jonah Hecker; Adam, Luke and Noah Hecker.

While she was busy raising her children, she supported their activities by being an active member of PTO, a den mother for cub scouts,” Band Aide” for the high school marching band and the energetic fan at all of their sporting events. She continued her interest by attending the grandchildren’s sporting events whenever possible and taking them to the University of Wisconsin Grandparent Camp in the summer in the hopes that she could entice someone to become a future Badger.

While raising her children, she was famous for inventing summer projects around the house to keep everyone busy. The difficulty of the project and the lack of age and compensation of the children were never considered as these projects included landscaping, digging a basement, scraping and repainting the old buildings on the property and re-sealing the deck to just name a few. Decades later, her children still groan with the memories of those summers, but all are grateful for the values instilled.

Besides being involved in her children and grandchildren’s activities, she loved spending time with friends, shopping for antiques, making baskets, supporting the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association and attending University of Wisconsin sports, especially the football bowl games.

Once the children left the house, she bought a cherry red Mazda Miata convertible which she enjoyed driving around town or on trips. Travel was another one of her hobbies and she and Fred travelled to many places (all seven continents), visiting friends and family and experiencing life through many cultures. Among other adventures, she rode camels, crossed the Outback and danced with Indigenous Tribes in Australia, climbed glaciers in Alaska, walked with penguins in Antarctica, fished for piranha in the Amazon, skied in Chamonix and saw the Great Wall of China. When she missed out on all a destination had in store, her answer was “next trip.”

In her free time, Alice volunteered with charitable groups including Tri-Kappa, Meals on Wheels, P.E.O., Questers, Letreian and the Carmel Historical Society including having her house on the fundraising tour in 2000. She was given the Hamilton County service volunteer award of the year in 2000.

In 2013, Fred and Alice moved to Marquette Retirement Community in Indianapolis where she resided until her death. She is preceded in death by her first grandchild, Andrew Thomas Kroll. She leaves behind her husband of 64 years.

Alice was a bright, smiling and warm person with an engaging personality who was always curious and full of questions. She loved talking to people and could tell you about everyone she met including their children, interests, occupation and activities. She was robbed of her mind and personality as Alzheimer’s progressed through her brain, but she will always be remembered for her warmth and kindness.

She will be laid to rest at the Evergreen cemetery in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Donations may be made to the following:

Alzheimer’s Association Marquette Manor Foundation Carmel Clay Historical Society