Gayle Frances Heckel

Gayle Frances Heckel, age 72, of Oconomowoc, Wis., lost her 8 year struggle with Lewy Body Dementia with her family by her side on June 21, 2018. She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Robert Heckel, her children Mark (Susan) Heckel Joseph Heckel, and Jennifer (Chip) Hollman; her grandchildren Sophia, Samantha, Gus, Wesley, Eva Rose, Chloe, Chase, Juliana, and Parks; her siblings Helen (Don) Minnick, Thomas McPhillips, and Mary (David) Butts; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Gayle is preceded in death by her mother, Eva Filson and stepfather Walter Filson, her father, James McPhillips, grandson, Jackson Heckel, and sister, Kathleen McPhillips. Born in Chicago in 1946, Gayle grew up in Lake in the Hills, Ill. She graduated from West Dundee High School in 1964. After high school she worked as a ticket agent and flight attendant for North Central Airlines. She met Robert Heckel at a wedding in 1966. She said he was handsome, smart, and hard working, and he said she was good looking, with a great pair of legs. The two were married in Algonquin, Ill., on Aug. 31, 1968. Early in their marriage they lived in Milwaukee, Wis., where they welcomed their first child, Mark, in 1970. Gayle and Bob moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1972, where Joseph and Jennifer were born and raised. They were fortunate to have made many life-long friendships. She enjoyed raising her family with her sisters and having big family get togethers. Gayle went back to school to pursue a nursing career. She became a registered nurse who started in dialysis but quickly discovered that she preferred babies and transferred to the neonatal ICU. She worked at Rockford Memorial and Northwest Regional. In the span of her 20+ year career, she helped thousands of the smallest and sickest babies as a high risk NICU nurse. After 24 years in Rockford, Gayle and Bob moved to north west Arkansas and built their dream house on Beaver Lake. They spent 16 years in Arkansas before moving back to Wisconsin to be closer to family when her grandkids were born. She loved her dogs and was known for rescuing strays. She kept several and treated and found homes for many. Gayle was known for her love of chocolate. Cake and ice cream were not uncommon for breakfast; and her grandkids all knew that Nana had stockpiles of sweets. She also enjoyed swimming, boat rides, black and white movies, and playing cards and board games- she was a part of a bridge group for many years. She loved playing with grandkids and spending time with her family. A celebration of Gayle's life will be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at Christ the King Lutheran Church (1600 North Genessee St. (Hwy. C), Delafield, Wis. 53018) at 11 a.m., with a visitation beforehand starting at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at https://www.lbda.org/donate. Gayle will be missed by many and forgotten by none.