HEEG - Arthur Walter Heeg, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully, with his family around him, on Sunday, November 1, 2009 in Regina, SK. Born November 26, 1931, at Prelate, SK, Art Heeg is survived by his wife, Betty Lou, of 55 years; his children: Terry Lou (Terry) Bailey and family- Barbra, Julie and Andrew; Jo Ann (Hugh) Williams and family- Jessica, Sarah (Cody) and Thomas; Blair; and Lisa (Gary) and her son, Christian. Art was also the proud great-grandfather of Reese, daughter of Sarah and Cody Allin. He was predeceased by his father, Christian Heeg, in 1984; his mother-in-law, Alice Mary Marlatt in 198;, and his mother, Emma Heeg in 1992. Art is survived by his sister, Bernice (Bud) Miller; brothers, Bud (Norma) Heeg and Ron (Jeanne) Heeg; sister-in-law, Irene Strong; brothers-in-law, Jack (Rose) Marlatt and Ernie (Shirley) Marlatt along with many nieces and nephews. Art, or 'Artie' as his family called him, grew up on the family farm near Estuary, SK. He was a natural athlete who enjoyed baseball, hockey, curling, golf as well as fishing and hunting. There were many stories about growing up on the farm where a creek behind the house provided a swimming hole in summer and skating ice in winter. In the summer of 1951, a new teacher was to arrive in Estuary. All the available bachelors met the train and there, Art found his life partner, Betty Lou Marlatt. (She always said he looked like Steve McQueen). They were married on December 28, 1954, and lived in Sceptre and Estuary for the first eight years of their marriage. They moved to Leader in 1962 where all four children graduated from school. Art's livelihood was farming. He and his partner and older brother, Buddy, farmed the family land in the Estuary district together until 1985, when Art suffered his first debilitating stroke. He was only 53. During their years in Leader, Art and Lou were very active in community life. Art was a loyal member of the Leader Lions club and a faithful member of Leader United Church. He was an avid curler, (a skip with great draw weight) and even made a trip to the provincial mixed curling play downs along with wife, Lou, and Fredda and Bill Hubich. He shone as a master of ceremonies, regularly roasting fellow Lions and others at various events. He never forgot a joke and could always come up with one for any occasion. All his life, he was a die-hard Red Wings fan, finally seeing them become a winning team again. He loved teasing and joking with his children and grandchildren: he would make up little rhymes and sing them funny songs. Music was a great pleasure to him. In 1986, Art and Lou moved to Regina, where Lou and daughter, Lisa, opened a women's clothing store (Bettylou Boutique) together. Art was their biggest supporter and also became Lisa's 'nanny', looking after grandson, Christian, from the time he was a baby until he started school. He was a wonderful grandfather and his grandchildren loved him very much. It was a great tragedy when, in 2001, he suffered a second major stroke that left him without speech and confined him to a wheelchair. He could no longer communicate easily, although he continued to write his traditional Christmas letter and still enjoyed a good laugh. He was a great fan of everything his grandchildren did, from sports to 4-H beef and horse shows to dance and music recitals. This amazing, but humble guy, was also a man of great faith, patience, endurance, courage and integrity. He has been and always will be an inspiration and an example to all who knew him, but most especially to his family. We love you and will miss you and know that you are now safely and peacefully in the arms of God. If anyone so wishes, the family would appreciate donations to Regina Palliative Care Inc. (4F-4101 Dewdney Ave., Regina, SK S4T 1A5)