Joseph "Joe" Heck

Joseph Pevis Heck

Baker City 1932-2023

Joseph Pevis Heck, 91 was a loving, caring husband, father and grandfather died on May 11, 2023 in Baker City surrounded by his family. The rosary will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at St Francis de Sales Cathedral 2335 First St with Mass of Christian Burial Celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Internment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery with luncheon following immediately at St. Francis fellowship hall.

Joe was born on Feb 4, 1932 in Fort Rice, North Dakota to Anna and Pevis Heck. He was the oldest boy of 11 children. He finished school in 8th grade and started to work on the family farm where his help was much needed. On the family farm he found the love of horses. He would break and train wild horses. His favorite horse he broke was Victor.

On August 27, 1956, Joe married the love of his life and polka dance partner. Agnes E. Hoffman. They took over the family farm and started their family of eventually seven children. As times got tough in the cold North Dakota winters, they decided to pack up in an old station wagon big enough to hold a family of nine and move to Baker, OR.

After the move to Baker, it was tough finding a rental with very little money for a house to fit five daughters and two sons. He found a house on 7th Street that was big enough to house everyone. After settling in the new home, he was hired by the Baker Feed lot. The Bishop of the Catholic church hired him to feed his horses to help out with his expenses.

Joe later worked on construction crews that built local dams in Oregon including Mason Dam and Hells Canyon Dam. He was in the Laborers union which included working on freeways, bridges and big culverts from Ontario OR to Pendleton OR. In the Laborers union he worked on many projects throughout Eastern OR including the cement plant in Durkee, OR and on the gas pipeline. Joe continued to work as a finish carpenter until he retired.

Joe enjoyed camping and being outdoors. There were many camping trips to Huntington and Richland OR. He taught all of his children and grandchildren how to fish. He was always fixing fishing poles and untangled lines, never complaining. He was an avid hunter he looked forward to the hunting season with his sons, daughter and grandchildren. It was not about the deer or elk; it was about spending quality time with family in such beautiful scenery.

Joe was a master gardener with a green thumb, every year had a big garden. He would plant his potatoes on Good Friday and grew 200 lbs. of potatoes every year. He grew his carrots all winter and enjoyed pulling them out in spring to see how much they grew. Joe made the biggest pumpkin patch on his back lot. He enjoyed watching young children and his grandkids pick out pumpkins for Halloween. Joe loved all kids; they brought a smile to his face. Being the gardener, he picked local berries of any kind and would make his holiday cheer a strong drink called Bounce.

After retirement, Joe decided to take up golfing. He never had a lesson but could always get the ball down the center of each fairway. His wish was to go golfing just one more time. In his down time, he painted oil paintings of farm scenery. Framed them and passed them out to family and friends. Reading was his passion. He loved reading old western novels. His favorite author was Louis L’Armour. There is not a book in this collection that he has not read. Joe learned polka and waltz dancing at a very young age. He went to all the dances in North Dakota and continued dancing in his later years, traveling to many Polka festivals in Oregon with his sweetheart.

Woodworking was a past time, he took old barnwood and made bird houses and garden benches that sold at the local nursery in Baker City, OR.

Joe is survived by his remaining children Joleen Moeller, Doris (Ron)Hutton, Cindy (Shane)Sowers, David (Jacqueline)Heck, Carol (Jeff)Petry his son-in-law Landon Fischer, Sisters: Lena George, Darlene Behler, Kathleen (Bob)Wainright, Bobbi (Chuck)Keller Brothers: Donny (Marge)Heck, and Raymond (Marge) Heck. 14 Grandchildren Lori (Casey)Kotter, Joe Moeller, Jacque Fischer, Jeff (Tara) Fischer, Jacob Fischer, Jason (Nicole)Fischer, Taryn (Jeff) Arbayo, Dannica Hutton, Zachary Wimp, Zebadiah Wimp, Ashley (Fernando)Murillo, Andrea Heck, Jerame (Katie)Petry, Courtney (Adam) Sticka: 16 great-Grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Agnes Heck, his daughter Leta Fischer, son Curtis Heck, son-in-law Michael Moeller and an infant granddaughter Kelly Wimp, Parents; Pevis and Anna Heck, Brothers; Leslie Heck, Arthur Heck, Terry Heck Sister; Diane Heck.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Joe the family suggest St Francis De Sales for renovation of Cathedral steps through Pine Valley Funeral Home and Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be made at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com