Seward Forrest Heckaman, 86, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, in his Columbia City home.

Seward was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Bremen, to Forrest Henry and Anna Marie (Heyde) Heckaman.

He and Jean “Arlene” Kaufman were married August 7, 1948 in Pascagoula, Miss., and would share 67 years. She survives in Columbia City.

He was a 1947 graduate of Burket High School, Burket. One year prior to their marriage on Aug. 10, 1947, Seward entered the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country for 20 years. Having served in the Strategic Aerospace Division, Senior Master Sergeant Seward F. Heckaman was honorably discharged Aug. 31, 1967 at Vandenberg AFB in California.

Seward lived in Lompoc, Calif., for 51 years and was a member of Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Lompoc.

In addition to his wife, others who survive are: his daughter and son-in-law: Dorothy and Eugene Gillespie of Cumberland, Md.; two sons and daughters-in-law: David Seward and Sonja Heckaman of Lompoc; and Dirk Edward and Michelle Heckaman of St. George, Utah; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters: Karen Bucher, Columbia City; Rosemary Williamson of Papillion, Neb.; Maxine Taylor of La Fontaine; Diana and her husband Paul Bedics of Tippecanoe; and one brother and sister-in-law: Doyle and Bernita Heckaman of Silver Lake.

Seward was preceded in death by a sister: Phyllis Swick.

You are welcome to join Seward’s family for a time of sharing memories from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, in Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan St., Warsaw. A celebration of Seward’s life will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 29, in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery Warsaw, where military graveside honors will be conducted by Warsaw’s American Legion Post No. 49 and VFW Post No. 1126.

The family has asked that gifts in Seward’s memory be directed to Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 205 W. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc, Calif., 93436.