Alan was drafted into the United States Army in 1950 serving in the Korean War. While in Korea he was an auto mechanic, just like in the States, He came home to be near family as his mother was “graduating’ to her next home in 1952. All five of Fred and Clara’s sons served in the military and all came home alive! All five were proud to serve in the military. Lena, Illinois has a Veterans Memorial Wall with all five names, honoring their service to their country. Alan loved going to the Veterans Day parades and the Veterans Day tribute at city Hall in Loves Park, IL for many years.
In 1954 Alan met Elizabeth (Betty) Christopher, the love of his life through his brother Loyal and his girlfriend Gloria. Betty and Gloria worked together at Freeport Hospital at the time. On April 23, 1955, Alan and Betty were united in marriage at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Shullsburg, WI. During the marriage, Alan and Betty welcomed four children, Terri A. Dull, Jeff Heid, Jill (Eathel) Burrow, and Christopher Heid. On April 23, 2020 they celebrated 65 years together, with a steak dinner, he was so happy with this meal! Alan has four grandchildren, his pride and joy: Jason Dull (Nichole Crane), Rebecca Dull “BAD”, Jesse Burrow (Perla Cavazos) and Thomas Burrow, great granddaughter, Rosalinda Burrow, whom he would look at pictures of daily. Alan retired from Ingersoll Milling Machine Co. in 1987 working 30 years there. After his retirement, he went to work for Miller Engineering –thanks to his close friend, Charlie Lee. Alan loved working there. It was like a vacation for him after working at Ingersoll for all those years. Charlie Lee and Alan would go to the farm show in DeKalb, IL, every year, bringing back tons of free tokens. Four-sided yardsticks were one of those tokens. He would make canes out of these yardsticks, much to the pleasure of many people who encountered him. It was surely a conversation piece. Alan never met a stranger. He would talk to anyone. We used to have contests to see who knew someone first when we went out to different events during his life. Alan could have a temper, but you knew where you stood with him. He was real, to the point, and most of all a great family man. He did not like paper plates for holidays, people mowing on Sunday or the comic, Garfield. He loved watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and old-time westerns with his wife and son Christopher. Watching the Regatta Boat Races on Rock River and the ducks at Martin Park with Betty brought him much happiness. His family loved to play cards. At almost every gathering, there would be a card game. Alan would usually win much to the displeasure of the other players, it got old after a while, and he had the memory of an elephant. His memory was still good until about a week and a half before his death.
Alan was a lifelong Cubs fan and he watched them win the 2016 World Series with several of his family members enjoying his enthusiasm of the game. He attended many games in his lifetime and even attended one when he was 90 years old after winning tickets through a fundraiser for his grandson Thomas’s school. Alan loved going to county fairs with his grandchildren explaining the workings of a farm, it was not just because of Covid-19 that all the fairs were cancelled this year; the organizations knew Alan Heid would not be able to attend. He also loved Cadillacs, owning several in his lifetime. He loved Harley motorcycles and horses, especially Clydesdales.
His sister Marilyn Sowers and her son Jerry (Patti) Sowers also survive him. One brother Gordon (Pat) Heid, his children Robert (Betty) Heid and Julie Nielson. Niece Susan Stengel, Nephews, Steven Heid, Curtis Heid, Paul Lanman nephew-in-law, sisters-in-law Jeannette Christopher and Mary Worley, numerous great nieces: nephews and great-great nieces, nephews, and tons of cousins. His very special friends also survive him: Virgil (Darlene) Prather, Charlie (Peg) Lee. He was predeceased by his parents, brother, Eldon Heid, and his wife, Lavonne, brother Lowell Heid, brother-in-law, James Christopher, sister-in-law, Doris Heid, brother, Loyal and his wife Gloria, brother-in-law, Ray Sowers, nephew, Dennis Sowers, niece, Pam Lanman niece, nephew in-law Nick Stengel.
Thanks to Rebecca, Julie and the other nurses from OSF hospice for their care of Alan prior to his death.
Visitation for Alan will be from 10:15 until service time at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, 600 Clifford Ave. Loves Park 11:00 a.m. Thursday July 16, 2020. Mask required. Entombment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Military Honors conducted by VFW of Loves Park.
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