Russell “Junior” Heckathorn

Russell J. “Junior” Heckathorn, 90, passed away Friday, March 30, 2018 at his home in Neosho Rapids.

He was born August 13, 1927 in Emporia, Kansas the son of John and Lola Overlin Heckathorn. He attended Emporia High School and graduated with the Class of 1945.

On August 21, 1945, Russell enlisted in the United States Army and served as a combination welder. He would earn a honorable discharge on January 13, 1948. Following his military service, Russell worked for the Santa Fe Railroad Bridge and Building Division for almost ten years.

Russell was joined in marriage to Janet “Toots” Phillips on July 30, 1949 in Emporia.

In the late 1950’s he began working as a welder at Didde Manufacturing in Emporia. He would work his way up to be the head of maintenance before being forced to retire just short of his 25th year of service. One year later he took a position in the security department at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Station before eventually retiring.

Russell was a member of the Neosho Rapids Memorial United Methodist Church. He also held memberships in the Lebo Masonic Lodge #152 AF & AM, the American Legion Post #5, V.F.W. Post #1980, The York Rite, Knights Templar and was a charter member of the Neosho Rapids Lions Club.

Junior and Toots raised their granddaughter Stephanie, following the death of their son Rusti Heckathorn on December 24, 1985. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Clark and a brother Jim Heckathorn.

He will live on in the hearts of his wife, Janet of their home; daughters, Ava J. Zumbrunn and her husband Steve of Neosho Rapids and Kori A. Rosenquist and her husband Dale of Neosho Rapids; a son Jon N. Heckathorn of Neosho Rapids; a sister Dorla Fancher of Emporia; a brother, David Heckathorn of Anaheim, California; eleven grandchildren and sixteen great- grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Neosho Rapids Memorial United Methodist Church. Inurnment will follow services at Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday Evening from 6:00 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church and sent in care of the Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home in Lebo. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.