Samuel Heeger

Samuel Jay Heeger, 85 years old, passed away on January 22, 2010. Sam was born on March 19, 1924 in Sioux City, Iowa, to Louis Heeger, an immigrant from Russia, and Eva Heeger from Omaha Nebraska. He had two brothers, Myron and William, both of whom predeceased him. Sam grew up in Sioux City during the Great Depression. His father, Lou, owned a Jewish delicatessen. Sam started working at the deli with his father at age 12, and worked steadily at the store until he graduated from high school in June 1942. Immediately upon graduation, he began service in the U.S. Army and was deployed to the Pacific Theatre during World War Two. Sam was awarded a Bronze Star for his valor in the battle for the liberation of the Philippines. After the war, he returned home to Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, where he received a bachelorÂ's degree in business. While a student at Iowa, he met Jeanne Basuk of Charles City, Iowa. They married in 1948, and shortly thereafter moved to Los Angeles, CA, where Sam began his long-term career with S.E. Rykoff & Co., a wholesale grocer selling to the restaurant and institutional food industry. Sam started his career moving and stocking boxe...[more]

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in the large warehouse; due to his loyalty, work-ethic, common sense and problem-solving abilities, he worked his way up to warehouse supervisor and ultimately senior Vice-President of operations. He retired from Rykoff after 41 years, in 1989.Sam and Jeanne moved to Burbank in 1953. They had three children, Barbara, Phillip and Daniel. They were very active in the Burbank Jewish community, and took pride in their childrenÂ's accomplishments. In 1971, Jeanne died after a short battle with cancer. Sam married Eleanor Goodley in 1984, and together they continued to be active and involved in the Burbank community. In 1997 they moved to Rancho Mirage, and have enjoyed a very active life there in retirement. SamÂ's favorite pastime during these years was his frequent golf games. Family always remained important to him, and he and Eleanor traveled to all family occasions across the U.S. Sam is survived by his wife Eleanor, brother-in-law Paul Goodley, his three children, Barbara (Steve) Adam, Phillip Heeger, and Daniel Heeger, his two step-children, Laurie (Monty) Franklin and Gary (Tao) Reiter, and his two granddaughters, Jeanne Heeger and Brianna Heeger. Sam will also be missed by his cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Temple Sinai in Rancho Mirage.