Loren G. Heape
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Loren G. Heape, 88, of Tamaroa, passed away at 5 a.m., Monday, May 11, 2009 at his residence.
Loren was a retired coal miner last working as a shovel operator at Freeman United Electric Coal Mine for 40 years. He was also a retired farmer. Loren had served as road commissioner for Rd. Dist. #1 from 1953 to 1968. He had served as a board member of the Sunfield Grade School Board. Loren was a member of the Sunfield United Methodist Church, UMWofA, Tamaroa Masonic Lodge and the Du Quoin American Legion. He was a US Army veteran of W.W. II serving in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He was a POW ofW.W. II in Germany for 33 days.
He was born February 21, 1921 at Tamaroa, the son of Horace and Hazel (Dry) Heape.
Loren married Minnie Bishop on October 6, 1940 at Du Quoin, and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Tamaroa, five children- Bobby Heape and wife Kay of Du Quoin, Lucille Woodside and husband Dennis of Pinckneyville, Phillip Heape and wife Carole of Du Quoin, John Heape and wife Cindy of Tamaroa and Carroll Heape and wife Karen of Granite City, sister- Eula Mae Webb of Terre Haute, Ind., sister-in-law- Irma Heape of Farmington, eighteen grandchildren- Todd Heape and wife Susan of Du Quoin, Susan Harsha and husband Ted of Pinckneyville, Jill Marek and husband Steve of Du Quoin, Stephanie Branstetter of St. Louis, Brian Shirk of Pinckneyville, Jason Woodside and wife Trisha of Twin Falls, Idaho, Renae Marin and husband Dean of Chicago, Amy Heape of Manhattan, N.Y., Scott Heape and wife Melissa of Bloomington, Kim Heape of Du Quoin, Lou Ann Cole and husband Roger of Percy, David Harper and wife Toni of Du Quoin, Danette Secrease of Du Quoin, Ryan Heape of Du Quoin, Seth Heape of Chicago, Hailey Heape of Grafton, David Heape of Grafton and Devin Heape of Granite City, thirty great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers- Delbert Heape and Roy Heape, two grandchidlren- Renee Shirk and Josh Heape.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at the Sunfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Kesling officiating.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.
Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
In lieu of flowers the preferred form of remembrance is memorials to the Sunfield United Methodist Church Building Fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Du Quoin American Legion and VFW Posts.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.