Arthur Heitz, Jr., 81, Rapid City, SD, and formerly of Vale, SD, died Friday, May 26, 2023, at Platte Valley Medical Center, Brighton, CO.
Art was born February 27, 1942, in Belle Fourche, SD, to Arthur Sr. and Adelia (Erdman) Heitz. He was one of five children, and the family lived on a farm in Arpan. Art attended school in Arpan and Nisland through 11th grade and transferred to Newell High School his senior year, graduating in 1961. He enjoyed singing in the chorus, the glee club, and playing football, and basketball.
Art attended Evangel College in Springfield, MO, in 1961-1962 and was a member of the Crusader basketball team.
He married Maureen Schnell on September 22, 1962, and they had four children together. They farmed in the Vale area for 35 years until Maureen’s death in 1998. They were lifelong members of the Newell Assembly of God Church.
Art married Jeanne Smith on November 27, 1999. They farmed in the Vale and Rapid City areas for 23 years and attended Rapid Valley United Methodist Church.
Art was saved at an early age and loved his Lord and Savior. He loved singing hymns and playing alto and soprano saxophone in church. Art also loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Other passions were his love of farming and inventions. In 2005, he invented the Bale Caddie and Bale Grappler. The following year, he was chosen as one of the top 10 finalists for an inventor’s challenge in Iowa. In 2008, Art won first place in the SD Governor’s Giant Vision Award Contest in Sioux Falls, and in 2009, Art received a US and International patent on the Bale Caddie.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanne Heitz, Rapid City, SD; four children: Brenda Castaldo (Ken), Springfield, MO, Norman Heitz (Lana), Pierre, SD, Lurlene Klein (Phil) Brighton, CO, and Tamera Heitz-Peek, Bolivar, MO; two step-children: Shanti Noreika, Eugene, OR, and John Noreika Jr. (Dorothy), Belgrade, MT; 11 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Adelia Vig, and Elaine Edwards; and sister-in-law, Beverly Heitz; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Maureen, parents, Arthur and Adelia Heitz, brothers, Norbert Heitz, and Clarence Heitz, and brother-in-law, Bob Edwards.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, June 4, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Rapid Valley United Methodist Church, 5103 Longview Dr., Rapid City, with Rev. Quaya Ackerman and Rev. Gary Walters officiating. Burial to follow at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
