Philip Edward Hecht, 79, of Ft. Madison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Phil was born on January 17, 1944 in Moline, Illinois, the son of the late Waldemar (Walt) P. Hecht and Mary J. (Cramer) Hecht of Burlington, Iowa. Phil and Christine M. Jedlicka were united in marriage on June 12, 1965 in Westmont, Illinois while she was a student at Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago and he was serving in the U.S. Navy.
Prior to moving to Iowa with his parents, Phil attended LaMesa Elementary School and Monroe Junior High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1962. Phil went on to earn an associate's degree from Burlington Junior College (1964), a bachelor's from St. Ambrose University (1998) and a master's from Western Illinois University (2001) where he was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Additionally, he held certificates from Harvard Business School in strategic management and The Wharton School in finance.
While in the Navy Phil graduated from the United States Armed Forces Defense Information School and was deployed in combat operations in Vietnam during 1965-66 holding assignments with Attack Squadron 93 and the Executive Division on board USS Enterprise.
During high school and junior college Phil worked for J. S. Schramm’s in advertising and display. From 1966 until 1973 he was employed as an industrial engineer with Schaub Engineering in Downers Grove, Illinois and Mason & Hanger in Middletown, Iowa. In 1974 he joined Vega Industries at their Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Heatilator site as an industrial engineer. Over the years in Mt. Pleasant he held positions as manufacturing engineering manager, operations manager, manager of manufacturing, and vice president of member and community relations. The company had several name and ownership changes over the years and in 2006 Phil retired as a vice president with Hearth and Home Technologies after 33-years with the company.
Phil is survived by his beloved wife of 58-years, Christine; his son Alan M. Hecht of West Point, Iowa; his daughter Audrey L. Roman and granddaughters Ava and Emily of Bettendorf, Iowa; four sisters, Kathleen Williams (Russ) of Mediapolis, Iowa; Nancy Scott Swanson (Mark) of Ashland, Wisconsin; Deborah Coon (Jeff) of Mediapolis, Iowa; Susan Wagner-Hecht (Christine) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and his sister-in-law Darlene Hecht of Ft. Worth Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Calvin, and his father-in-law and mother in-law Hans and Anna Jedlicka.
His greatest joy in life was spending time with his loving wife, son, daughter, and two granddaughters. He felt truly blessed to have a wonderful, kind, generous and supportive wife; a very helpful, compassionate and thoughtful son; and a sweet loving daughter who is an amazingly talented and dedicated mother to his precious granddaughters.
Phil enjoyed traveling and felt right at home whenever he vacationed in the American southwest where he grew up. He also cherished the times he spent in France, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Cuba, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
Phil enjoyed life to the fullest; however, he always looked forward with great anticipation to the day when he would be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
A 54-year resident of Lee County, Phil most recently served on the Lee County Economic Development Group board, the Southeastern Community College Foundation board, and the Fort Madison Library board of trustees. His past community involvement included serving as a director with Great River Region Partnership, as a board member with Iowa Region 16 Workforce Development, and being president of both the Mt. Pleasant Area Manufacturers Association and Henry County Area Junior Achievement.
Per his wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the care of King-Lynk Funeral Home and Crematory in Fort Madison, IA. A private family celebration of life will be held followed by interment at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien, Illinois. Online condolences to Phil’s family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
