Alvin James Heggem

Alvin Heggem passed away at home on August 5, 2025. He will be greatly missed by his family and all those who loved him. The Funeral details and Condolence Page can be found on the website of Marker & Heller Funeral Home in Huber Heights, Ohio. A funeral service will be held at Way of the Cross Church in Huber Heights on August 20,2025. Following the funeral, he will be laid to rest in the Dayton National Cemetery with military honors. Please join us in celebrating his life. These words are only a small summary of his journey. His real legacy is his heart, his family and his belief in his Savior Jesus Christ.
Beginning in western South Dakota,
Alvin was born on July 10, 1956 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. H was the second of four children to Alfred and Alice Heggem of Camp Crook, SD. He grew up and worked on his parent's cattle ranch 10 miles north of Camp Crook. As a child, Alvin attended the one-room country Tarter School with his siblings, cousins, and neighbor kids through the 6th grade. In the summer of 1968, his family purchased a small house in Buffalo, South Dakota, where they lived during the school years. Alvin attended Buffalo elementary school for the 7th and 8th grade and then Buffalo High School, where he graduated in 1974. Each summer and many weekends included returning to the ranch to help the family. In high school, he was an Honor Student, and a member of Student Council, and Boys Chorus and Mixed Chorus. Alvin also participated in sports where he was All-Conference in Football and in Basketball. In Track, he set school records in the mile, shot-put,and discus.
Alvin continued his education at the South Dakota School of Mines& Technology, in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering in December1978. During college, he continued playing football and competing in Track & Field for the Hardrocker's of SD SM&T.
After South Dakota,
After graduation, Alvin accepted a job with Boeing at the Renton Plant (near Seattle, WA). Alvin met Veronica while working in Renton and they were married on January 12, 1980. Alvin adopted Veronica's three sons, Brian, Timothy, and Jerry and they were a family of four.
After several years, Boeing was down-sizing and offered released employees a transfer to work on a new plant joint venture that Boeing had undertaken with Martin-Marietta in Florida. Alvin and Veronica moved their family to Tampa, Florida, but the joint venture did not happen and the plant was never completed. Alvin joined the Air Force and was assigned to MacDill AFB in Tampa.To complete the required Temporary Duty assignment, Alvin served several months at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska. After his time in Tampa, Alvin was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFB, in Dayton, Ohio. The family relocated to Huber Heights, Ohio where Alvin continued his Air Force career for a total of 9 years until early retirement from the Air Force as a Captain. While working in the Air Force, Alvin attended Cornell University in Ithica, New York and earned a Master's Degree in Hotel Management. After a short retirement, Alvin started a new civil service career working for the US Postal Service in Huber Heights,until he retired after 20 years as a Mail Carrier.
Alvin is survived by his wife Veronica; sons and daughter-in-laws Brian & Jill, Timothy & Angelique, Jerry & Michelle; sister Joyce Bennett; brothers Dan and Lavern Heggem; grandchildren Brian Jr., Garrett, Lilly, Keanue, Raven; great-granddaughter Violet as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was greatly loved and appreciated by many family members and neighbors alike. We mourn, but we look forward to joining him in eternity with our Savior.
Those wishing to make donations please make them to Camp Crook Volunteer Fire Department (contact Fire Chief George Davis); or Camp Crook Area Community Center (contact Debra Long)