Benedict Charles "Ben" Heidgerken

Mr. Ben Heidgerken, 76, of Latimer, died Saturday, December 19, 2009, in Ocean Springs. Mr. Heidgerken was born in St. Joseph, Florida and had been a longtime resident of the coast. In 1952 he entered the U. S. Air Force and served in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. He retired in 1972 with the rank of master sergeant. Ben was a great outdoorsman and loved grafting fruit trees. He was also a former educator at Mississippi Gulf Coast Communtiy College where he retired as Assistant Dean of Career Technology. He was very dedicated to his Catholic faith. Ben is survived by his wife of 48 years, Dale D'Orville Heidgerken of Latimer; two daughters, Terry (John) Poelma of Latimer, and Judy (Jimmy) Allen of Wake Forrest, NC; two brothers, Victor Heidgerken of St. Joseph, FL, and Frederick Heidgerken of Abbeyville, AL; and five grandchildren, Justin of Santa Barbara, CA, Jacob of Latimer, and Adam Poelma of Latimer, and Ethan and Heather Allen of Wake Forrest, NC Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with recitation of the Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and A Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to Mission Director, City of St. Jude, Montgomery, AL 36108-4198. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, is in charge of arrangements.