George C Heppner

Mr. George C. Heppner, 86, of Port Ewen died peacefully at the home he built overlooking his beloved Hudson River, on Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by his loving family.

Born April 30, 1924 in Kingston to the late Ernest and Mildred Heppner, he is survived by his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Patricia Cahill Heppner, whom he married on November 23, 1944.

He is survived by his three devoted children and their spouses who loved him dearly; a son Daniel G. Heppner, Esq. and his wife Elaine of West Shokan, NY, daughters Carole Eymann and her husband Bruce of Kingston, NY and Beth Weishaupt and her husband William of Kingston, NY.

The greatest blessing in Mr. Heppner's life, besides his wife and children, was his grandchildren; Elizabeth Eymann Whittle and her husband John of Salt Lake City, Utah, Matthew Eymann of Kingston, NY, Caitlin Weishaupt Sanzi and her husband, Stefan, of Kingston, NY Alexandra Weishaupt of Boston, MA and Caroline Weishaupt of Kingston and great grandchildren John Daniel Whittle, Molly Catherine Whittle and Georgia Frances Zanzi.

Mr. Heppner also leaves behind his dear sister, Nancy Beckerman of California and her two sons, Eric and Jason Beckerman, as well as his step-mother, Ruth Heppner of California.

Mr. Heppner graduated from Kingston High School, Class of 1941. He enlisted in the military serving during WWII in the Army Air Corp, graduating from the Cadet Pilot Program. He later attended Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina. Mr. Heppner completed the General Electric apprenticeship program in Schenectady, NY. From General Electric Corp., Mr. Heppner joined IBM where he was employed for 32 years, retiring as a Senior Engineer in 1987.

Mr. Heppner was a Past Commander and Life Member of the American Legion Post 150. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Mid Valley Federal Credit Union. Most dear to his heart was the Hidden Harbor Yacht Club in Port Ewen, which he co-founded in 1957. In 2007, Mr. Heppner was honored at HHYC's 50th Anniversary celebration. Mr. Heppner was a member of Rondout Lodge #343, F & AM and the IBM Quarter Century Club. He was also a regular attendee at the Wednesday morning Men's Breakfast at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Mr. Heppner enjoyed boating, designing and building, work parties at Hidden Harbor Yacht Club and traveling with his family, especially to their summer residence in Cape Cod, MA.

Entrusted to the care of the Keyser Funeral Service, 326 Albany Ave, Kingston. A Celebration of George's Life will be held at Keyser's on Sunday from 4 - 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Presentation RC Church, Father Kelly Drive, Port Ewen on Monday at 11:00 am. Military Honors will be provided by Joyce Schirick Post # 1386 VFW at Hidden Harbor Yacht Club immediately following Mass. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Town Of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Squad, P.O. Box 910, Port Ewen, NY 12466 or Hospice Of Ulster County, 34 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401. Light a candle in memory of George at www.KeyserFuneralService.com