Mildred "Millie" Hecht

Mildred (Millie) Wieneke Hecht, 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 8, 2015 at 11:08 PM at Faith Countryside Home/Faith Care Center in Highland, Illinois. Millie was born December 3, 1921, in Golden Eagle, Illinois, to George C. and Mary Ella Wieneke. Later her family moved to Brussels, IL; where she grew up. Millie moved to St. Louis, MO, to attend LPN school. After graduating, she worked as a private duty nurse. Millie also worked at Carter Carburetor at the beginning of WWII. On her 21st Birthday (1942), she joined the WAAC which later became the WAC (Women Army Corp). After basic training and specialist school at Des Moines, IA, she was assigned to recruiting duty at Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls, NY. After WWII ended, Millie was reassigned to duty at Fort Dix, NY. On January 4, 1946, she was discharged and returned to St. Louis, MO. While in the service, Millie met Reinhardt (Reiny) Hecht in New York City. Reiny was also in the army and had served overseas. Reiny arrived back in the states on March 10, 1946, and they were married at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Brussels on May 4, 1946. They lived in Lansing and Alton, IL, before moving to Highland after buying the Ford dealership in 1955. Millie was a homemaker but also worked with Reiny in the office at Hecht Ford Sales. After selling the dealership in 1967, she worked at Seitz Jewelry for many years. Reiny preceded her in death on October 16, 2001. Millie was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. In her earlier years she loved being a Sunday School teacher and working with the teenagers at Hope. She was a past President of the VFW Post 5694 Ladies Auxiliary, past president of the VFW Madison County council, past President of VFW 12th District, served as color bearer for the VFW Auxiliary Department of Illinois, and a member of the Highland American Legion Auxiliary 439. Millie is survived by a son - Gregory G. Hecht, Guntersville, AL; a daughter - Suzanne H. (Brent) DeWitt, Springfield, IL; five grandchildren - Christopher P. (Bridget) DeWitt, Mahomet, IL; Stephanie L. (Jason) Sukut, Springfield, IL; Nathaniel B. (Jamie) DeWitt, Maryville, IL; Janelle R. (Michael) Kloos, Trenton, IL; Colin G. (Catherine Byers) Hecht, Colorado Springs, CO; six great grandchildren - Dylan P. DeWitt, Mahomet, IL; Kaitlyn N. DeWitt, Mahomet, IL; Megan B. DeWitt, Mahomet, IL; Kylee A. Sukut, Springfield, IL; Logan S. Sukut, Springfield, IL; Macy L. Sukut, Springfield, IL; one sister in-law – Alby Wieneke of Hardin, IL; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by: Father - George C. Wieneke; Mother - Mary Ella Wieneke, nee Krause; Husband - Reinhardt Otto "Reiny" Hecht died 10/10/2001; Daughter - Phyllis Hecht died as an infant; Brothers - Virgil Wieneke; Russell Wieneke; Ralph Wieneke; Sister In-laws- Elsie Wieneke; Mary Wieneke Arrangements are being handled by Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 12, 2015, at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, IL, and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, on Friday, February 13, 2015, at Hope Lutheran Church in Highland, IL. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 13, 2015, at Hope Lutheran Church in Highland, IL, with, Rev. Leonard Laetch, officiating. Interment will be at 1:30 PM on Friday, February 13, 2015 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Lutheran Church; Hospice of Southern Illinois, VFW Post 5694.

Mildred "Millie" Hecht

December 3, 1921 - February 8, 2015