Roger Heesch

My name is Roger Alan Heesch. I was born on October 14, 1946, in Davenport, Iowa, to Donald H.L. and Phyllis A. (Rahn) Heesch. I died in Kingman, Arizona, on September 11, 2026, at the age of 79.

I graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1964 and attended St. Ambrose University in my hometown. In 1967 I graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Mortuary Science, and soon after I entered the U.S. Army, serving in the Mortuary Corp., mostly in Germany.

When I came home, I began a career that would define my life. I worked at Hill and Fredrick Funeral Home and was co-manager of McGinnis Funeral Home. Then I spent 18 years at Runge Mortuary. Later I became a partner in funeral homes in DeWitt, Le Claire and Clinton, and in Clinton Lawn Cemetery. I finished my Iowa years as owner of the Heesch Funeral Home in Le Claire.

After enough harsh Iowa winters, I moved to Kingman in 2008. I went to work at Sutton Memorial Funeral Home, first full time and later part time, because I wanted to stay active in the work I loved. I was a licensed funeral director for 58 years, and it was a privilege to serve families at the hardest times of their lives.

The Masonic family was a big part of my life in the Quad Cities. As a young man I joined the Davenport Chapter of the Order of DeMolay. I later served as an Advisor there and was honored with the Chevalier and the Legion of Honor. I was a charter member of Early Morning Lodge in Bettendorf, now Bend of the River Lodge, and a member for more than 50 years. I was also a member of Snow Lodge in Le Claire.

Mohassan Grotto in Davenport was especially close to my heart, where I served as its Past Monarch. I also served as Past President of the Midwest Grotto Association and held several national offices and committee appointments with the Grottoes of North America. After moving to Kingman, I kept my membership in Abbid Grotto.

I was proud to hold a Life Membership in VFW Post 9128 and to be a 32-year member of American Legion Post 154, both in Bettendorf. I also served as a District Governor of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.

In my later years I faced cancer five times. Thanks to some fine doctors and hospital staff, I won the first four rounds, but the fifth was too big a fight.

I leave behind my daughter, Phyllis (Kevin) Bruleigh, and their son, Jason, of Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada. I also leave my son, Scott (Amy) Schaberg, and their children, Holly (Paul) Allen, Ethan, and Heath (India) Schaberg, all in North Carolina. I am also survived by four great-grandchildren, Elisha Barry, Jayce Titus, Felicity Lynn Allen and Gabriel Schaberg; by my former wife, Nancy Dominacki, Czubara of Davenport; and by other relatives.

I was preceded in death by my brother and sister-in-law, David and Sharon Heesch.

A private family service will be held. In place of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mohassan Grotto Humanitarian Fund or the Iowa DeMolay Foundation.

Online remembrances may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.