Date of Death: May 31, 2022
Service Details
Visitation will be at Hohner Funeral Home on June 24, 2022 from 5-8 p.m. Celebration of life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Three Rivers/Centreville on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 2 p.m. Interment of cremains will take place at a later date at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
With a heavy heart, we announce the death of Al Heivilin of Three Rivers, Michigan, who passed away peacefully on May 31, 2022 at his home after a long battle with brain cancer.
Al was born March 25, 1949 in St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated from Three Rivers High School and received his Associates Degree from Glen Oaks Community College, with high honors.
He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Winifred Heivilin.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon K Heivilin; two sons, Christopher Heivilin and Shawn (Crystal) Heivilin; four grandchildren, Ronin and Reilly Heivilin and Jalen and Kali Heivilin; siblings, Sharon Lee Heivilin, Michael Heivilin, Mary Ann Shidaker and Fred Heivilin; many nieces and nephews.
Al was a long time resident of Three Rivers where he participated in the Three Rivers Jaycees, Kiwanis, American Legion, served on the County Transportation Authority board and Commission on Aging board for many years. He was Citizen of the Year for Three Rivers and was inducted in the Three Rivers High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Al was a proud retired United States Marine.
He chaired the county’s Toys for Tots campaign for over 30 years. He also received his 30-year plaque from the Michigan High School Athletic Association for a referee of basketball, and as an umpire of softball and baseball. He also assisted in starting the Youth Soccer and Rocket Football programs in the Three Rivers area. He coached many youth in baseball, soccer and rocket football, whereby many young men still called him coach.
He owned his own business, FTK Construction, for many years. He worked for Wicks Lumber, Morton Buildings Inc., Three Rivers Dairy Equipment, St. Joseph County Transportation and Camp Wakeshma.
Additional Information
If making a donation, please direct it to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in his honor.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.
Al was a friend, competitor and all around great guy. He was my elder he was 3 days older than I.
With fond memories and great respect.
JohnWright
Sharon and family, we send our sincere condolences. Al was a great man and I am glad that I knew him and you too Sharon. We will keep all of you in our prayers during this very difficult and sad time. Judy Gilchrist-Mohney, Stayton, Oregon.
Hello Sharron, Chris and Shawn~
So sorry for your loss! Sending big hugs to you all. Al was certainly a character and loved to tease me when younger. I have fond memories of him that make me smile. Fly high AL!
I am so sorry for your loss, Sharon, Chris, Shawn and families. I have fond memories of growing up with Al around!
Mrs. Heivilin and family:
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. You don’t know me. I’m just a gal that works at Home Depot, but Al was always very kind to me. I have to laugh because at first I was a little afraid of him. One day someone told me that Al was Shawn’s dad, Crystal’s father in law and for some reason that made him less scary. Over time, Al talked more during our interactions and I appreciated his sense of humor, his smile and his laugh. A few years ago I cracked some ribs which led to doctors finding a nodule in my lung. I told Al that I was gonna be off for a while because I had to have surgery. He asked me when it was going to be so I shared that info with him. Several days later, the day before I was going in for surgery, Al sought me out at work to let me know that he would be praying for me. I was so touched by that kindness and we each shared a little about our faith that day. When I recovered and went back to work, he sought me out again to see how everything went. There was a story to tell so I shared that with him, again we shared our faith. Before he left that day he said, “You take care, kid! I’ll keep on praying for you!” When I found out he was sick I got to be the one saying I’d be praying for him. I hadn’t seen Al in over a year because I was on medical leave with long COVID. The first time I saw Shawn after I got back I asked after Al. Shawn said he wasn’t doing very well and he was down in Florida. I was sad knowing I would probably never see Al again, but I kept on praying for him!
There is comfort in knowing he is whole and healthy and we will see him again one day.
To our Life member Al. Your will be surely missed as a faithful member of Saint Joseph County Area Detachment # 1401 and for all your help in our Toys-for-Tots drive each year. Thanks for my Jacket as I wear it each you as a remembrance of you. May you rest in peace! Sharon if there is anything I can do to help please let me know. SEMPER FI
Paul and Sharon Peterman
So sorry for your loss. Many memories of Joe being at Jalens travel baseball games. Glad I got to know him. He was a very nice man.
Sharon, Shawn, Crystal and beautiful family…so sorry for your loss. Always enjoyed a conversation with Al, and his sense of humor. We are so glad we got to know this kind man. Keeping all of you in our prayers and thoughts.
So sad to learn of Al’s passing. We knew him for many years through the Marine Corps group. He was a good man and a typically dedicated community member in common with many former marines. Condolences to Sharon and the family.
Dear Sharon and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I pray for comfort and peace for you and your family. Rest in Peace Al
we are so sorry for you loss our prayers for you and family
My condolences to Al’s entire family and to all his friends. He was a very friendly man, highly respected in the community and proud to have served his country. I know he will be greatly missed and I am glad that I knew Al. Rest in peace.
Judy Gilchrist-Mohney
Stayton, Oregon
Rest in peace Al. You were always a pleasant friendly person and a good citizen. You fought a long fight against a serious health issue. You were a good man and will be missed. Please accept my most sincere condolences to h.is family
My deepest condolences on t he loss of Al. He was a good man.
My condolences to Al’s family. I am sad that Al is no longer with us. He was a good man and an excellent Marine and my friend. I have marched with Al on several occasions. I have also learned many things from Al, both military and in the construction world. He also had an excellent smile and a profound sense of humor. Al, you left us way too early. May you rest In Peace Marine.
I am so sorry to hear this. Condolences to the family.
I wanted to thank everyone who sent their condolences. Al took his community and volunteering seriously. He loved TR and it showed. It has been a while now, but I think of him everyday. Many of my Florida friends .make sure I am ok each and every day. And, many of you support me as well. I love all my memories of Al and TR. God bless. Sharon K. Heivilin.