Elbert D. Heffner, Jr.

Beloved husband, father, papa, son, brother, uncle, and friend, Elbert D. Heffner Jr, better known as Don, age 85, of Erie, Michigan passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. He fought a long and brave battle with both kidney and heart failure. Don was born on April 23, 1938 to Georgianna (Ekleberry) Heffner and Elbert D. Heffner Sr. in Clyde, OH.He met the love of his life, Marlene, unexpectedly while doing one of his favorite things, eating, at Dons Drive Inn. They were married on February 17, 1962 and would go on to spend the next 59 years together prior to Marlenes passing in July of 2021. During their life together they raised two daughters and helped raise their favorite person, their granddaughter. Don was a veteran of the United States Army. While serving a tour in Korea, he taught the South Korean soldiers how to use the radios for communication. Upon his return he was stationed at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. After being honorably discharged he worked for the United States Postal Service, where he progressed through the ranks from a mail carrier all the way to a branch manager. In retirement, Don enjoyed volunteering at the Toledo Area Office of Aging and Meals on Wheels.Don was an avid sports fan. He loved watching the Ohio State Buckeyes, Miami Dolphins, Boston Celtics, and the Toledo Walleye. For the last ten years of Dons life, Don enjoyed spending weekends at the Toledo Walleye with friends and family, cheering the team on, win or lose. He also took great pride in coaching his daughter Lynn, and her softball team. He also spent his Monday and Friday nights watching WWE. Besides sports, one of his favorite things to do was read. He loved spending his Sundays scanning the library shelves for the newest westerns. If you were to ask Don what his favorite thing to do was, he would say spending time with his family, going to Sunday dinners at Texas Roadhouse. Above all Don loved anything to do with his granddaughter Hannah, whether it would be the french fries and root beers together after school, their weekly movie dates, or watching her perform on the stage.He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter Lynn and his favorite son in law Anthony Jager, daughter Kelly Heffner, his granddaughter Hannah Jager, his fur buddies Baby and Monkey, and as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Don was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Marlene Heffner, his brothers Sparky and Dick, and his sister Sue.Don and his family would like to thank Dr. Ammar Kayyali, Dr. Deepak Malhotra, as well as the staff at Seacrest Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Monroe, Michigan. Don was more than just a patient to them, they treated him with dignity and respect and as family, always going above and beyond for him. Keeping with Dons wishes there will be no visitation or services. Cremation services have been entrusted to Blanchard Strabler Funeral Homes and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to offer memorials are asked to consider donations in Dons honor to the Toledo Library Legacy Foundation with their Name A Book program or by going to the amazon wishlist that the family has created for Seacrest, https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14ZNWFTGND0XA?ref_=wl_shareNo matter where we are, your spirit will always be beside us.Always remember Papa, you were the best in the room.