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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Gregory Hekel
Gregory
Hekel
November 23, 1949 – May 26, 2024
Gregory Hekel's Obituary
Gregory Hekel, 74, a resident of Fairfax, Virginia who grew up in Traverse City, passed away on May 26, 2024 after bravely fighting a long and virulent illness. He was born in Queens, NY on November 23, 1949. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Hekel and Margaret (Nink) Williams, and his brother, Peter Hekel. He leaves behind his fiancée, her family, and many cherished cousins, relatives, step-family and lifelong friends.
Though born in Queens, Greg's true home was his beloved Traverse City, where he spent his childhood and returned every summer as an adult. He remained especially close to cousins Garner and Nancy Koontz and their son, Bradley, and Margaret and James Roman, and lifelong friends Charles and Susan Maxbauer, their children Samuel (Megan) and Andrew (Madelyn), and Charles' siblings and their families. He cherished attending their children's events, and later celebrating their careers and life milestones.
After graduating from Traverse City Central High School and Northern Michigan University, Greg moved to Virginia. He eventually reconnected there with his close lifelong friend Jamie Kellogg and her husband Michael, both of whom were also originally from Traverse City.
Greg enjoyed a highly successful career as a cartographer and analyst with the US Government. He was very committed to his work, as exemplified by his myriad of accomplishments during his notable career.
Greg is remembered by all who knew and loved him as an extraordinarily kind, generous, thoughtful and deeply caring person. He was gallant and brave in battling pain and illness to the end. He will be deeply missed by his devastated family and friends and by all who had the good fortune to know and love him. That he is without pain now is a blessing. That he is gone way too soon is devastating.
A memorial celebration of Greg's life will be held later this year in Traverse City. For those who would like, donations in Greg's memory can be made to Friends of Homeless Animals at foha.org, or the United Service Organizations (USO) at USO.org.
Though born in Queens, Greg's true home was his beloved Traverse City, where he spent his childhood and returned every summer as an adult. He remained especially close to cousins Garner and Nancy Koontz and their son, Bradley, and Margaret and James Roman, and lifelong friends Charles and Susan Maxbauer, their children Samuel (Megan) and Andrew (Madelyn), and Charles' siblings and their families. He cherished attending their children's events, and later celebrating their careers and life milestones.
After graduating from Traverse City Central High School and Northern Michigan University, Greg moved to Virginia. He eventually reconnected there with his close lifelong friend Jamie Kellogg and her husband Michael, both of whom were also originally from Traverse City.
Greg enjoyed a highly successful career as a cartographer and analyst with the US Government. He was very committed to his work, as exemplified by his myriad of accomplishments during his notable career.
Greg is remembered by all who knew and loved him as an extraordinarily kind, generous, thoughtful and deeply caring person. He was gallant and brave in battling pain and illness to the end. He will be deeply missed by his devastated family and friends and by all who had the good fortune to know and love him. That he is without pain now is a blessing. That he is gone way too soon is devastating.
A memorial celebration of Greg's life will be held later this year in Traverse City. For those who would like, donations in Greg's memory can be made to Friends of Homeless Animals at foha.org, or the United Service Organizations (USO) at USO.org.
To order memorial trees in memory of Gregory Hekel, please visit our tree store.
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