Esther was born June 23, 1925, in Greenville to the late Walter & Chelcie (Sebring) Kruckeberg. In addition to her parents, Esther was also preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, William R. “Bill” Heft on June 8, 2011, whom she married August 6, 1950; daughter-in-law, Carol Heft; great-grandson, Mathew Adams; and sisters, Faith Joan Kruckeberg, Laura Batty and Florence Putterbaugh.
Esther is survived by her children, Bruce E. Heft of Ansonia, Kathie M. (Rex) Abke of Troy and Mark A. (Mary) Heft of Versailles; 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Robert Walter Kruckeberg of Piqua and Lawrence Henry (Susette) Kruckeberg of Versailles; sister, Alice K. Swinger of Greenville; brothers-in-law, James Batty of Versailles and Richard Heft of Greenville; sister-in-law, Treva Heft of Troy; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Esther attended Elementary School in Froid, Montana. In 1944 she graduated from High school in Versailles, Ohio. Following graduation she worked as a secretary at the Veterans Administration in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio until 1950 when she transferred to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. She resigned from Wright Patterson Air Force Base in 1952. Esther graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio with a Master’s Degree in Education in 1973. She taught grades Kindergarten, Third, Fourth and Sixth in Versailles Schools until she retired in 1991.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 19, 2018, at Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles with Pastor Pentti Maki officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Versailles. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Versailles. Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
