Dr. Edward H. Heck

Edward "Ed" Heck, senior pastor of Kankakee, Illinois, First Church of the Nazarene and an adjunct professor at Olivet Nazarene University, passed away September 6, 2016 at West Chester Hospital in West Chester, Ohio, following a short illness. He was 62. He was born July 24, 1954 in Rock Island. Ed was raised by his grandfather, Fred Swanson. Following Fred’s death, he was raised by foster parents, Burton & Irene Lang in Sylvis, Illinois. He graduated from United Township High School in East Moline. Ed married Kathleen Welton June 7, 1975 in Three Rivers, Michigan. Heck, who began serving as senior pastor at Kankakee First Church in 2000, was an adjunct professor of leadership at his alma mater, Olivet Nazarene University. In 2014, Heck received a Ministerial "O" Award from the university. Begun in 1957, this is the highest honor that the University gives to its alumni. Heck experienced great growth and spiritual vitality in each of his pastoral assignments. This included churches in Morenci, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; Vicksburg, Michigan, and Vandalia, Ohio.. He was the Chicago Central district secretary for 12 years. He served on the Future of the Church Commission, as well as other boards and committees for the global Church of the Nazarene. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature from Olivet Nazarene University, he held a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Surviving are his wife of forty-one years, Kathleen Heck of Bourbonnais; his daughter, Alea, who will be graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in December of 2016. He is also survived by one brother, David & Lea Lang of Louisburg, Kansas; two sisters, Sandra & Ambrose Canty of Davenport, Iowa and Virginia & Jerry Thomas of Colorado; one half brother, Doug Lawson ; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jill & Mike Morgan of Flat Rock, Michigan and David Welton of Three Rivers, Michigan; his mother-in-law, Kathleen Welton Scutt of Bourbonnais; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. For fun, he loved riding his 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic motorcycle with his wife, Kathy. He loved his involvement with the Kankakee First Church softball team, which recently became the 2016 Nazarene National Softball Tournament Champions. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Fred Swanson; and his foster parents, Burton & Irene Lang. "Let me declare it while I still have the ability to do so: I am right with God, I am right with things, and I’ve put things right with others," Heck wrote in a blog post September 5. Visitation will be held 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 16, 2016 at Kankakee 1st Church of the Nazarene. A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Kankakee 1st Church of the Nazarene. There will be no visitation held on Saturday. As we celebrate the life of Dr. Heck, the family has requested that friends and family wear bright colored clothing. Following the services, cremation rites will be accorded. Memorials may be made to the Dr. Edward H. Heck Scholarship at Olivet Nazarene University.

Dr. Edward H. Heck

July 24, 1954 - September 6, 2016