Walter L. Heikes, 82

Walter Lee Heikes, 82, of Canon City, Colorado, son of Milbern and Georgia Heikes was born on December 21, 1934 in LaVeta, Colorado and passed away at home on August 4, 2017 from pancreatic cancer. He married Lois (Slankard) Franke on August 29, 1981 in South Fork, Colorado.   Walt went on ahead to hold open the door to Heaven for Lois.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Clarence of Alamosa; Gene, Harry, and Leland of LaVeta; son Kenneth of LaVeta; and granddaughter Lorna Franke of Creede.  Survivors include his brother Robert (Joe) of LaVeta; sister Irmajean Thomas of Walsenburg; four stepchildren; eleven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Walt served as an auto mechanic in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves from March 26, 1957 to February 28, 1963.  After working various jobs around the LaVeta area, he ran his own dairy farm in the San Luis Valley until he retired in the mid-1980's.  Walt loved hunting with his grandson Kristopher of Grand Junction and spending time with his devoted wife and family.  Special times were spent engaging with the wildlife in their backyard and visiting over coffee with "the boys" at Blimpie's in South Fork, Colorado.

Though no public service will be conducted per Walt's wishes, remembrances can be made through donations to the Western Dairy Association; westerndairyassociation.org.