July 8, 2008
Pastor Harley Heckman passed away on June 1, 2008. Harley and his wife, Ferne, were farmers in Nebraska when they experienced the new life of Christ. Ferne came to know the Lord first and then prayed Harley into God’s Kingdom.
A few years later, Harley responded to the Lord’s call to ministry and traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife and two sons, Darrel and Dale. There he entered the St. Paul Bible Institute and upon graduation was called to serve the Alliance Chapel at Tyler, Minnesota. At that time, another son, Myron, was born.
After four years at Tyler, Harley moved on to Orange City, Iowa, to serve the Gospel Church, affiliated with the C&MA, followed by ministry at the First Alliance Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the next 19 years. These were years of great blessings and fruitfulness as the Lord granted new areas of ministry. During the last years of their ministry in Milwaukee, Harley and Ferne became “empty nesters.” At the age of 61 after many conversations with the Lord, they responded to a call from the Hazel Park Alliance Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. They served there for six years before concluding full-time ministry and moved back to Milwaukee.
Shortly thereafter, Rev. Bill Ronzheimer asked Harley to serve as minister of visitation at Alliance Bible Church in Mequon, Wisconsin. Harley and Ferne remembered those last years of service as an enjoyable and fruitful way to serve the Lord.
Upon his retirement in November 1994, Harley was honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus. After nearly 56 years of marriage, Ferne went to be with the Lord in September 1997. She had been a wonderful help in the work of the Lord.
Through all of life, the joys and sorrows, the victories and defeats, God has proven Himself faithful. Isaiah 41:10 has meant so much to Harley and Ferne: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NKJV).