Robert K. Heilman

Robert K. “Bob” Heilman, age 89, of Mackinaw City went to be with his Lord on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at Tendercare in Cheboygan. He was born April 22, 1927 in Macon, MI, the son of Karl and Ethel (Ayotte) Heilman. On February 21, 1992 in Gatlinburg, TN, Bob married June E. Coffman.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944 during WWII serving with the Seabees and was honorably discharged in 1948. Upon his discharge, he returned home to Cheboygan and, at age 28, purchased a frozen food business which he ran until 1966 when he opened the Fort Fudge shop in Mackinaw City. He retired in 2015.

Bob was very civic minded and his efforts to serve and promote Mackinaw City were without limits. He was a longtime member of the Mackinaw City Lions Club, the American Legion in Mackinaw City the V.F.W. and a life member of the Pellston Masonic Lodge. He served four years on both the Community Memorial Hospital Board and the Mackinaw City Village Council as well as the Cheboygan Golf and Country Club and the Cheboygan Rotary Club.  Bob was the first promoter and principle fundraiser of the Mackinaw City Pageant and very instrumental in raising money to get a library in Mackinaw City. Bob’s influence and devotion to Mackinaw City will be forever evident. Bob was an avid Tigers and MSU fan and enjoyed reading and traveling the world with June.

Survivors include his wife June, two sons, Robert R. Heilman and Charles K. (Kathy) Heilman and their children, Andrea, Kristina and Stephen, all of Mackinaw City and his step-son, Jon (Kelly) Darrow and their children, Jack and Katherine of Brighton, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Louis Heilman.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 2, 2016 at the Church of the Straits in Mackinaw City with Pastor Dave Wallis officiating. Burial with full military honors will take place at Lakeview Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the Mackinaw City Lions Club, Hospice of the Straits or the Church of the Straits.  Arrangements are being handled by the Nordman-Christian Funeral Home.

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