Willard "Willie" Heppner

Funeral services for Willie Heppner of Warroad, MN will be held on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Warroad Community Center.  A meal for everyone and a time for fellowship will follow the service.  Private interment will be at the Silent City Cemetery.

Williard James Heppner of Swift, Minnesota died in the vegetable garden of his childhood home July 5th at the age of 69.

            Will only left Roseau County briefly to defy the United States Air Force by being a conscientious objector and find the love of his life in Bemidji, whereafter he returned to Swift to build a house, a life and a family directly across the gravel road from where he himself was raised.

            Will was an avid reader, gardener and craftsman who read broadly, grew tremendous onions, and could build anything; often times drawing up blueprints on the hood of his lime green pickup truck.  

He enjoyed travelling -even overseas-- but most of the time preferred to be home by five.  Will preferred the outdoors, walking in the rain and working in the cold but was a connoisseur of comfort who always had a wood fire purring in the living room, a soft pillow for his bed and time for his loved ones and his neighbors.

            Will enjoyed the Lord of the Rings, the word “periwinkle.” He wrote poetry and could name any bird, star or tree.  He could see humor but also secret sadness.  He was a good man, a great father and he was loved.

            He is survived by his wife Heni, his children Hans and Chelsea as well as 9 brothers and sisters: Frank, Abe, Art, Margaret, Don, Mary, Richard, Ken and Janet.  He was ushered into the garden by his father Frank and his mother Kate. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Willard "Willie" Heppner, please visit our floral store.