Obituary: George Edward Heger

He was the second of five children and the middle son of three. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family on Father’s Day, Sunday June 16, 2024.

Growing up he spent a lot of time with his grandfather by helping chop cotton and corn, or shooting rats in the hay barn.

He also swept the bank where his father worked.

George attended Weimar High School where he played football and the trombone in the band, he admitted to not being good at either. In high school he learned to type and was paid 25 cents per policy to type up auto, home insurance policies and wills that his father sold. He graduated Weimar High School in 1955.

George attended Warton Junior College riding the bus 60 miles one way every day. After Warton JC, he attended Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in finance. George served in the Army for four years where he was stationed in Korea.

On Aug. 19, 1962, he married Gail (Fries), also from Weimar. After the Army, he worked for Amoco Chemical Company in Texas City.

Moving to Hitchcock in 1968, they adopted a son, Michael. In 1971, they adopted a daughter, Elizabeth. At the time they lived in Yorktown.

In 1973, he moved his family to Granger, where he became president and majority owner of the Granger National Bank.

Then he started a crop insurance agency serving local farmers in the area.

He also sold real estate and was a broker who sponsored several other real estate agents.

George was a member of the Granger Knights of Columbus. A member of the Bellville, Hitchcock, Yorktown, New Ulm and Granger Lions Club. He was a charter member of the Yorktown Jaycees, and served as treasurer of Granger MMD. He was the treasurer and proud member of Taylor Ducks Unlimited. George and Gail donated funds to put up the state championships sign when entering Granger. They also made many donations to SSCM School, SSCM church and the Granger High school football scoreboard.

His hobbies included hunting – especially duck – fishing, keeping birds of all types, playing dominos and Tarocks, but his real passion was flying his airplanes. He flew a Cessna 140, 172, 182, a Piper Colt and a J-3, which he loved. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ida (Gold Heger); father, John Frank Heger; brother, John Henry “Bootsy” and John’s first wife, Janet Heger; brother, James Carl Heger; and brotherin- law, Joe Untermeyer.

He is survived by his loving wife, Gail (Freis) Heger of almost 62 years; son, Michael George Heger and granddaughter, Holley Marie Heger; daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Gail Novak (Michael) and grandsons, Nicholas Scott Novak and William James Novak; sister, Patricia Zatopek (Harvey); sister, Jane Untermeyer (Joe); sisters-in-law, Molly Heger (James) and Mary Ruth Heger (John’s second wife.)

Funeral services will be held Aug. 2, at SSCM Catholic Church in Granger with a rosary at 10 a.m., followed by mass at 11 a.m. and graveside service at Calgary Cemetery in Granger.

Honorary pallbearers are Dan Johnson, Terry Morrow, Ted Hejl, Randy Schwertner, John Pavelka, Leon Respondek, Michael Novak, Nicholas Novak, William Novak, Holley Heger and Jimmy Heger.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in George Heger’s name to SSCM Catholic church in Granger, Taylor Ducks Unlimited or Granger Fire Department.