Charles Xenephon Heffner (Chuck)

Howells, NE

1937, 757, Doran, F-23,

Chuck was born September 17, 1918 in Howells, Neb. to Mary Pechanec and Frank Heffner. He graduated from Howell High School in 1936. He remembered fondly his days in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps in Nebraska and South Dakota. He was also employed by the U.S. Engineers office in Omaha, Neb. With the onset of WWII, he enlisted in the United States Navy and advanced to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. He served as an Admiral's aide on-board ships engaged in the Pacific theater including the Battle of Okinawa. At the end of WWII, he was discharged in San Francisco and was accepted to begin studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Instead, he was encouraged to move to the Rogue Valley by local resident, Jack T. Walker. The two went into business together and started CONCO, a cement block-making company. He then accepted a position at KOGAP Manufacturing Company where he eventually became general manager, retiring in 1988.

He married Bonnie Jean Linn in San Francisco in 1944. He and Bonnie raised two children, George (wife Roberta and children Cody and Kayla) of Talent, Ore. and Marta (husband Kelley Hayden) of Reno Nev. Bonnie preceded him in death in 1986. He married Claireen Lindley who survives (children Wendy Cornwall, Jeffrey Dodson, Holli Hopkins, Kevin Dodson, and Allison Dodson).

Chuck had been a member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriner's International, and the Medford Elk's Club. He enjoyed local politics and was a precinct committee chair in the 1960s. He supported Black Tornado football and continued to follow the Oregon Ducks. Over the years, Chuck enjoyed camping, skiing, golf, boating, and most recently, living part of the year on the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, fishing with his good friend Bill Clauder.

A celebration of life was held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013, at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2201 N. Phoenix Rd., Medford, Ore., followed by a private interment.

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