|
Sgt. George E. "Big Heart" Heartwell, Jr. 1970- 2010 George Eligi Heartwell, Jr. was born May 28, 1970 in Bluefield, West Virginia to George and Corine (Wade) Heartwell, Sr. He was raised in West Virginia and graduated from high school there. He attended college in West Virginia, where he excelled at football and earned an Associate Degree in Criminology. He worked for a time as a jail warden, police investigator and also assisted in preaching with his father, who is a bishop in West Virginia. George entered the United States Army National Guard in Rocky Mount, Virginia in 2004, and served with the 1173rd Transportation Company He served three tours in Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was awarded numerous medals and ribbons. He was honorably discharged in 2006 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, but was a National Guard Reservist at the time of his death. On February 2, 2009 George married Josephine “Joy” Kalinga. They recently moved to Minot. George was known by many as “Big Heart,” because he always looked out for others before himself, and he had a way of reaching out to people. He was a good leader and always went the extra mile. Those who shared in his life, wife, Josephine and six month old daughter, C.J., both in Minot; daughters, Shantall in West Virginia and Shadell in Virginia; father, George Heartwell, Sr., Bluefield, WV; sisters, Estelle Heartwell, and Cortina Mickels, brother, Robert Heartwell; numerous stepbrothers and stepsisters; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rodolfo and Corazon Kalinga, of the Philippines; sisters-in-law, Janine Pearl and Jody Kay; several nieces, nephews and cousins. George was preceded in death by his mother, Corine, and brother-in-law, Jovanni Kalinga. Funeral: Friday, July 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home Chapel, Minot, ND. Visitation: Friday (today) from 9:00 a.m. to service time, all at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot, ND. Burial: Friday at 2:00 p.m. at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND. Officiating Clergy: Music: CD music selected by the family Honorary Bearers: All of George’s family and friends Graveside Military Honors Those attending the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery prior to 2:00 p.m., there will be no formal procession. Our family would like to thank everyone for the many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated and will never be forgotten. May God bless the memory of George “Big Heart” Heartwell, Jr.!
|
Sgt. George E. “Big Heart” Heartwell, Jr., 40, Minot, formerly of West Virginia, died Thursday, July 8, 2010 in a Minot hospital.