White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

WATERLOO – Ray Everett Heerkes, 88 years old of Waterloo, Iowa, and formerly of Jesup and Hazleton, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 07, 2011, at Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center in Waterloo, Iowa.  He was born March 18, 1923, in Franklin County, Iowa, the son of Elward George Heerkes and Zelda Alzada (Latimer) Heerkes.  He served in the US Army Air Corp as a radio operater from 1943 – 1945.  On October 29, 1946, he was united in marriage to Alyce C. (Quinlan) Schumann in Boone, Iowa.  She preceded him in death on November 3, 1983.  On January 26, 1990, he married Louise Emma (Alton) Volbruck, at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Jesup, Iowa.  They have made their home in Hazelton, Jesup and Waterloo, over the years.  Ray worked as a mechanic at Ace Fogdall RV in Cedar Falls before retirement.  He had also worked at Hawkeye Steel and Herrick Refrigeration both in Waterloo.  He was a member of St. Athanasius Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 8227, both in Jesup.

Mr. Heerkes is survived by his wife, Louise of Waterloo, Iowa, two daughters, Patricia (Kenneth P.) Weber of Jesup, Iowa, Rae Ann (Ronald) Pedersen of Cedar Falls, Iowa; one son, Michael (Julie) Heerkes of Porter, Texas; one step-daughter, Amy Stansbury of Evergreen, Colorado; one step-son, Dan Volbruck of Phoenix, Arizona; 12 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 3 step great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife Alyce, his parents, three sisters, Edna Mowery, Ethel Myers, Mabel Heerkes; three grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; and one step-grandson, preceded him in death.

Additional survivors include a brother in law, Edwin Myers, of Waterloo, Iowa; and three sisters in law, Lela Quinlan of Ankeny, Iowa, Lenore Tomson of Overland Park, Kansas and Julia Pinta of Baxter, Montana.

Funeral services will be 9:00 a.m. – Saturday, September 10, 2011, at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Jesup, Iowa, with Fr. Kenneth C. Stecher as celebrant.  Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.  Visitation from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Friday, Sept 9, 2011, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, Iowa, where there will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 3:00 p.m. and Vigil service at 7:00 p.m. Friday.  Visitation will continue for an hour before services at the church Saturday.