Bernard R. “Buck” Hettel, 89, of Utica, passed away on Monday morning, December 30, at the Ottawa Pavilion with his family at his side.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at St. Mary’s Church in Utica, with Rev. Michael Driscoll, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, where full military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Post 33 Veteran’s Group Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa, with Liturgical Prayers recited at 3:45 p.m. and with the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in attendance.
Buck was born in Valmeyer, Illinois, on November 22, 1930 to Bernard T. and Vera B. (Rabe) Hettel. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1947 to 1951, in Okinawa Japan, 15th Air Force. Buck married Dolores “Dee” Martin on December 17, 1953 in Joliet. He retired in 1995 from the Local 150 Operating Engineers. Buck was a member of the St. Mary’s Church in Utica, American Legion Post 33, the Local 150, and was a 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by three sons, Mike (Jean) Hettel, of Peoria, Marty Hettel, of St. Peters, MO, and Mark Hettel, of Ottawa, 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and two sisters, Dolores (Bruce) Bartlett, of Toledo, OH and Mary Belle Knutson, of Boulder Castle Rock, CO.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dee, on July 29, 2005, and a sister Nancy Halterman.
Pallbearers will be Mike, Marty, Mark, Ross, Eric, and Nick Hettel.
Buck was laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.
Recent Comments