Duane (Digger) P. Heiliger

Duane P. “Digger” Heiliger, age 81, of Kearney died Tuesday morning, August 25, 2015 Services will be Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kearney with Rev. Rebecca Craig officiating. Military rites by V.F.W. Post # 759, American Legion Post # 52 and the National Guard Military Honors Squad will be conducted at the church following the services. Burial will be at Kearney Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Sullivan Hills Camp (a Lutheran Youth Camp) at Lodgepole, NE or Kearney High School Bearcat Booster Club. The family would like to invite everyone to a lunch at the Holiday Inn following the service at the church. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Duane Phillip (Digger) Heiliger was born May 24, 1934, in rural Cheyenne County near Lodgepole, NE to Phillip and Marie (Meyer) Heiliger. He was baptized into the Christian faith at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chappell, NE. He moved to Kearney, NE in 1948. On September 6, 1959, he married Betty Sheldon in Kearney where he lived the rest of his life. Duane grew up his first 14 years on a ranch in Lodgepole, NE where he was grounded in the love of cattle and pastureland. After moving to Kearney, baseball became a fulfilling and rewarding phase of Duane’s life. Duane finished his education in Kearney and worked for General Telephone Company for sixteen years. He decided to begin an Electrical business in 1962 and remained there until retirement in 1988. During retirement Duane enjoyed his work with the church, Saturday morning Bible Study, Motorist Assist for the State Patrol, golf, having coffee and many laughs with all his friends and sharing time with his family whom he loved so much. He says to them, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”. Duane was blessed and the essence of him can be seen and lives on in his children and grandchildren who were dear to him. Survivors include his wife, Betty; his son David and his wife Lori, their children Shelby Heiliger, Rachel Bilodeau, and Jared Chapman, all of CA, and son Randy and his wife Joni, of Lincoln, their children, Jacob Heiliger of Omaha, Joshua Heiliger and Jordan Heiliger of Lincoln; sister, Elaine Buss of Kearney; brother-in-law Butch Sheldon and his wife Jane of Kearney. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and Phillip Heiliger and brother-in-law Carl Buss. PDF Printable Version

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Duane (Digger) P. Heiliger

May 24, 1934 - August 25, 2015