Ernest J. Heitkamp, 85, Coldwater, died at 10:35 p.m. Feb. 9, 2011, at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Minster.

He was born Aug. 30, 1925, in Bowling Green to Anthony and Rose Fullenkamp Heitkamp. On May 13, 1950, he married Rose Prenger, who died Oct. 1, 2006.

Surviving are three children, Gayle (Don) Heitkamp, London, Peg (Jim) Schmiesing, Minster, and Mark (Beth) Heitkamp, Cincinnati; a son-in-law, Dan Golden, Flower Mound, Texas; three sisters, Linda Wenning, Coldwater, Mary (Paul) Sudhoff, Madison, Ind., and Rosemary Lehman, Dayton; three brothers, Eugene Heitkamp, Chickasaw, Arnold (Nancy) Heitkamp, New Bremen, and Gilbert (Marilyn) Heitkamp, Tipp City; a sister-in-law, Luella Heitkamp, Ludlow Falls; a brother-in-law, Harold Staugler, Dayton; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Also deceased is a daughter, Elaine Golden; three sisters, Annette Haley, Celesta Staugler and Mary Louise Heitkamp; a brother, Ken Heitkamp; and three brothers-in-law, Russell Haley, Frances Wenning and Gene Lehman.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Coldwater and the Chickasaw Veteran's of Foreign Wars. He worked at Dayton Power & Light for more than 30 years.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Coldwater.

Calling is 2-6 p.m. Sunday and 9-10 a.m. Monday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.