Thomas Heling, 65 of Sun City - Huntley, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin following a short illness.
He was born November 23, 1948 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the son of Harold and Doris (Bartelt) Heling. He attended University Wisconsin – Oshkosh and was a Capuchin Franciscan Brother for five years. Tom was a master baker and worked as a bakery manager for Roundy’s Foods for most of his career until a work accident forced him into early retirement in 2010. He enjoyed gardening, baking, cooking, painting, and most important helping others such as cooking monthly for Elgin’s Church of the Brethren Soup Kitchen. Tom was an avid cocker spaniel owner and had just started raising his new puppy Missy.
Tom was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Huntley (UCC). One of his most lasting impacts to the Village of Huntley was his creation of the Huntley Artfest (www.HuntleyArtfest.org), an annual weekend event that celebrates inspiration creativity and the human soul through music, visual and the performing arts.
He is survived by his mother, Doris Heling, his sister, Chris (Tom) Binder both of Oshkosh, two nieces, two nephews and three great-nephews, also his adopted extended family with Andrew Graff and Greg Ward of Huntley, Nick & Rick Kory Krohn of Milwaukee, Tim & Terri Verhasselt of Green Bay, and Rev. Lance Lackore of Huntley (Romans 8:12-25). He was preceded in death by his father, Harold and his brother, Stephen.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28th with the family greeting friends after 1:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 11628 E. Main Street, Huntley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the LGBT (Lesbian & Gay) Community Center, 1110 N. Market Street #2, Milwaukee, WI 53202 or at www.mkelgbt.org
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To the family of Thomas Heling, I thank you for contacting me regarding the loss of Thomas. I met Thomas as a bartender in Milwaukee a few years ago. Him being the kind and gentle man he was, I respected him. He will be remembered as a dear caring friend. Sincerely, Mike Hall
Tom was a dear friend to my brother Danny, where I met him at my brother's funeral. He had a kind heart and became a good friend. We shared stories of my brother and he helped keeping Danny alive in my heart. I will miss him Tom deeply.