John C. Heipley, Jr.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at the Daniel Funeral Home Chapel in St. Cloud for John C. Heipley, Jr., age 84 of St. Cloud who died Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud.  Reverend Alfred Stangl will officiate.  Burial of cremated remains with military honors provided by the St. Cloud VFW Granite Post #428 will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday and after 12 Noon Tuesday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. 

John was born on November 5, 1922 in Columbus, Ohio to John Charles and Emilie (Munn) Heipley Sr. He graduated from Zanesville High School in 1940 and attended Ohio State University until 1944 where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.  In 1944, John entered the U.S. Army and served in the European Theater during WWII through 1945 and was in the Army Reserve until 1954.  During his service he was awarded two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal WWII and the Occupation Medal Germany.John attended Biarritz American University in Biarritz France in 1945 and returned for his senior year in 1946 to Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering Degree in 1947.

After graduation, John was employed by the Univis Lens Company in Dayton, Ohio in 1947.  He worked various Engineering positions until he was transferred to Puerto Rico.  John spent 17 years in Puerto Rico and held positions as: Quality Control Supervisor, Chief Engineer, Vice President of Engineering and member of the Board of Directors. He then transferred to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida as Director of Engineering Development.  John left Univis in 1973 when he joined Vision-Ease in St. Cloud as Manufacturing Manager and Chief Engineer.  He was promoted to Vice President of St. Cloud Operations until he retired in 1988.

John married Ruth Neron on May 17, 1975.  John was a member of the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce, the Eagles Aerie #622 and the Country Club.  John was a licensed pilot from 1947 until 1992 and a licensed Amateur Radio Operator from 1958 until 2006.

John is survived by his wife, Ruth of St. Cloud; children, Emilie Thomas of South Carolina, Thomas Heipley of Florida, Nan Neron of Coon Rapids, Diane (Allan) Dingman of St. Stephen;  five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and one brother; Robert (Hazel) Heipley of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents.  

Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.

A special thank you is given to all doctors and staff at the VA Medical Center and St. Cloud Hospital,  and especially to Dr. Harold Windschitl.