Joseph E. Heckel Jr.

Joseph E. Heckel Jr., 92, of Gibsonia, formerly of Bloomfield, passed away Sunday at West Penn Hospital after a brief illness.

Born in Ben Avon, he was the son of the late Joseph E. and Elizabeth (MacDougall) Heckel.

After graduating from Avonworth High School in 1943, Mr. Heckel joined the U.S. Navy and served on a destroyer in World War II.

He received a degree in engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949, and graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1952.

He served as a Presbyterian pastor at Long Run Church in Irwin Pa., the Railbelt Church in Alaska, Third Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, and Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Mars.

In 1971, he received a Master of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh and became a vocational counselor in several high schools. He retired from Mars High School.

He worked passionately with the mission Jubilee Partners in Georgia. He and his wife, Joan, were deeply involved in mission work during the turmoil in Central America, and in later years, with prisoners in Pennsylvania State Penitentiaries, particularly juvenile lifers.

Mr. Heckel enjoyed gardening with his wife, whether in the permafrost of Alaska, the huge gardens he had while raising his family, or in the community garden of Bloomfield. He nurtured growth in these gardens, as well as in people, while serving as a pastor, counselor, advocate and friend. He shared the word and love of God.

Mr. Heckel impacted many lives in his professional career, on his many mission trips and through his volunteer work.

He was the beloved husband for 67 years of Joan (Goodwin) Heckel; and father of Dr. David G. Heckel of Jena, Germany, Sarah G. (Marc) Lavoie of Orlando, Fla., Rebekah G. Criss of New Castle, and Martha H. (Bill) Crummy of Gibsonia.

He is also survived by five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

HECKEL — Visitation for Joseph E. Heckel Jr., who died Sunday, June 24, 2018, will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Winter Funeral Home, 4730 Friendship Ave., Pittsburgh.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Jubilee Partners, 427 Jubilee Road, Comer, GA 30629.Please visit www.winterfuneralhomepc.com.