John Joseph Heck, 78, of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods died on May 8, 2025. John was born in Terre Haute to Louis and Mary Dougherty Heck on July 3, 1946. The second of four children, John was active in numerous outdoor activities including gardening, fishing, entomology, and 4-H. John attended St. Meinrad Minor Seminary for two years and graduated from Paul C Schulte High School in 1964 where he played football and basketball. He attended Indiana State University and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor Degree in Science, majoring in Entomology, and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Idaho. John served in the Army as an Airborne Ranger, rising to the rank of Captain, and he enjoyed serving on the Army Orienteering Team.

John operated a grape vineyard and a truck farm in southern Vigo County. He enjoyed providing produce from the farm and then his garden to Catholic Charities. He was an award-winning wine maker, winning numerous gold medals from the Indiana State Fair International Wine Competition. John was a life-long member of St. Mary's Village Church. He had been a member of the Serra Club and the Terre Haute Breakfast Optimist Club, where he especially enjoyed working in their Christmas tree lot and was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus.

John is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Sue Borders Heck, his three sons and their families, Otto, Mia, John Henry, and Mary Catherine of Falls Church, VA; Carl, Ellen, Parker and Luke of State College, PA;  Glen, Kate, Will, Rose and Ben of Lexington, KY.; his brothers Louis Heck (Nancy) of Birmingham, AL: Bill Heck (Kathleen) of Newton, MA and 24 nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bob Heck.

The visitation will be on Saturday, May 17th beginning at 4:00 at St. Mary's Village Church.  The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 6:00pm with Rev. C. Ryan McCarthy presiding.  Burial will take place following Mass at St. Mary's Village Church.  There will be a meal following the services at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, PO Box 3318, Terre Haute, IN 47803 or to St. Mary's Village Church, PO Box 155, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.