Victor Heese

1948 ~ 2018

Mr. Victor Francis Heese, beloved husband of Irene, passed away at the Meadow Ridge Senior’s Village on Friday, September 28, 2018, at the age of 70 years. Victor Francis Heese was born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan on March 8, 1948, to Johann and Lena (nee Pauls) Heese. His family owned the printshop in Rosthern that published the Valley News along with other regional publications. He attended Rosthern Junior College, a Mennonite private school, throughout his high school years. At 18, he was baptized and joined the Rosthern Mennonite Church. Following graduation Victor volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee in Bethesda Maryland at the National Institute of Heath and with the South Street Community Centre in Nashville,Tennessee. During this year, Victor saw the impact that poverty, racism and violence can have on families and he became interested in social concerns and peace.
He graduated in 1971 from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Science. He resided at Conrad Grebel and there pursued conversations and classes on peace and conflict resolution.
In 1971, Victor met and married Irene Willems in Saskatoon. Victor furthered his interest in peace making with a year at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. Victor and Irene travelled for a year in Central and South America. They experienced different cultures and observed the conflict that arises when peace making fails.
Upon returning to Canada, Victor conducted research in plant biology at Simon Fraser University. In 1973, he and Irene assisted in the founding of Second Mile Christian Community in Kenora, Ontario. The commune was a healing place for university students that were disillusioned with their faith, their politics and the establishment.
In 1977, Victor began studies at Kelsey Institute in Saskatoon and became a medical laboratory technician. Upon completion of his course, he accepted a position in the laboratory at the Prince George Regional Hospital and worked there until his retirement.
In Prince George, Victor served on several boards including Bethesda Christian Counselling Centre and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Social Housing Project and MCC’s Peace and Social Concerns. Together with his wife they were involved in the grass roots of the new university for Prince George.
Victor enjoyed short-term volunteer sessions with the Gleaners in the Okanagan and Abbotsford and in his last year, with the Prairie Gleaners in Medicine Hat. The Gleaners exist to help support resource poor communities by gleaning locally grown produce which would not be marketed. The produce is dehydrated and packaged for distribution to people in need around the world.
At age 55, Victor moved to Okotoks, Alberta where he combined his love of travelling with a variety of volunteer opportunities that addressed the issues of poverty, hunger and peace. He also enjoyed several short term mission trips to Mexico to work in an orphanage which focused on rescuing children, education and restoration of the broken.
As Victor’s illness escalated, the couple moved in 2016 to Medicine Hat to be near to their children. For the past nine months of his life, he experienced the excellent and loving care of the staff of the Meadow Ridge Seniors Village.
Along with his beloved wife, Irene, Victor leaves behind their children and spouses: Todd & Carmelita (nee Heese) Currie, Joel & Carol (nee Doerkson) Heese and Adam & Rachael (Heese) Erickson; their grandchildren, Sophia Currie, Madeleine Heese, Silas Currie, Auriel Heese, Isabelle Erickson, Gabriel Currie, Jorja Erickson, Riley Erickson; his siblings, John, Heinz, Paul, Bill, Edward, their spouses and their childrenas well as his many colleagues and friends.
The funeral service will be held at the Crestwood Mennonite Brethren Church, 2348 Dunmore Road S.E., Medicine Hat on Friday, October 19, 2018, at 2:00 pm. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is

• Date : 2018-09-28
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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