Herbert Louis Heck – The Dickinson Press

CORPUS CHRISTI ~ Herbert Louis Heck was born on April 29, 1930, and passed away on October 20, 2022, at his home on North Beach.

Herb was born in Dickinson, North Dakota, to Frank P. and Monica (Mandy) Metz. He was one of eight children, with one sister and six brothers – one of which brothers was Herb’s twin. Herb’s younger years were spent on a farm which his parents homesteaded southeast of Belfield, North Dakota.

After retiring from farming in Belfield, his parents moved to Dickinson, North Dakota, where Herb and his siblings attended Dickinson Model High School. Upon graduating, Herb decided a career of farming was not for him, so he enlisted in the Army during the Korean War. After his time in the service, he used his VA benefits to enroll in Dickinson State Teacher College, where he met his wife, Beatrice (Bea) Barger, and where they both graduated in 1957. After graduation, Herb and Bea moved to Alaska where they taught at schools in Wrangell and Kotzebue. Herb then transferred to Fairbanks where he was employed by the FAA and then to Anchorage, while Bea and their four children remained in Fairbanks. Herb served 5-1/2 years as Chief at Prudhoe Bay during the construction of the Alaska Pipeline and seven years working at headquarters. He retired from the FAA with 30 years of service.

After his retirement, Herb moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he met and married Clara, and then on to his home in Corpus Christi, purchasing a condo on Corpus Christi Bay, where he spent many hours watching the ships sailing in and sailing out. After Clara died, he reconnected with a childhood friend, Marge, and they subsequently married. He enjoyed entertaining friends, cooking and baking. Many of his friends at the senior center Sunday danced enjoyed his deviled eggs and peanut butter cookies, where he became known as the “Cookie Man.” During the Christmas season, Herb would bake over 100 rum cakes to give to his neighbors, doctors and friends. His rum cake and rum ball recipes were much sought after, and all he would say is that the recipes could be found on the Duncan Hines cake box!

Herb enjoyed going on cruises with family and friends, and found cruises a very nice way to relax, especially enjoying dressing up for dinner onboard. Herb was an active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, where he took great delight in wearing his pink suit every Easter Sunday. He was very proud of his service during the Korean War and kept a stock of Korean War ballcaps to hand out to all the Korean War vets he met.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Frank and Mandy, his seven siblings, Joseph, Pauline, Leo, Michael, Edward, Clifford, Donald, and his wives, Clara and Marge.

He is survived by his children, Gary, Karen, Linda and David, and his grandsons, Christopher and Dylan, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Herb’s funeral service will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on North Beach, on October 25, at 11:00 am, with a celebration of life immediately following at the Corpus Christi International Seamen’s Center. Internment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Corpus Christi International Seamen’s Center, 1501 N. Mesquite Street, Corpus Christi, Texas 78401.