Virginia (Ginnie) Ruth Erickson Heck, age 94, Born 9/30/1930 in Oak Park, IL, Died 8/6/2025 in Carol Stream, IL. Ginnie is survived by her children, Paul Heck, Scott Heck, Lynnaea (Chuck) Martin; her grandchildren, Roxanne (Chris) West, Aubrey (Chris) Hartman and Braden (Stephanie) Martin; and her great-grandchildren, Adam Windham, Connor McGinness, and Chloe McGinness. Her husband, Glenn Heck won the race to heaven in 2024.

Ginnie was a lifelong resident of Wheaton. She attended O.W. Holmes grade school, Wheaton Junior Academy, Wheaton Academy, and Wheaton College where she met her husband of almost 72 years, Glenn. She designed and drew the plans for the house which Glenn and his father Ellsworth built near the College. It became home of the Heck family for 53 years, and additionally "home" for 70 or so Wheaton College students who stayed in the upstairs bedrooms over the first 15 years. In 2005, she and Glenn moved to Covenant Living at Windsor Park in Carol Stream.

Ginnie believed that music enhanced the worship of God. In addition to playing the piano, she participated in high school choirs, college choirs and smaller singing groups. She was a member of the touring musical group His People, and was a guest organist at dozens of churches in Chicagoland and central Michigan. She especially loved accompanying other musicians in order to enhance their best performance. She helped them find whatever key was the best fit for them in any worship song, all by ear. Throughout her career she played for more than 300 weddings, 600 funerals, and thousands of worship services.

Ginnie served with the music ministries at Wheaton Bible Church for over 70 years. Beginning as the accompanist for the Junior Choir at age 14, she was the pianist during high school and college, the organist, member of the choir, accompanist for special music groups, church camp accompanist, and most recently substitute organist when needed. Using her musical gifts, she enhanced worship services with the piano, organ, harpsichord, celeste, accordion, and once a MOOG synthesizer. In 1982, WBC produced a concert on cassette tape titled "Ginnie and Alice" featuring Christian music arranged by pianist, Ginnie Heck and organist, Alice Oury.

As a piano teacher, Ginnie enjoyed teaching hymn arranging as adjunct faculty member at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in the 1950s. In her private teaching practice, she particularly enjoyed beginners, especially adult beginners. Her children don't play piano, but after overhearing 1,000+ lessons a year, they can tell you exactly which John Thompson music book the student is in. She retired from private teaching in 2005 when she moved to Windsor Park and began to participate in the music programs there. She was accompanist for various singing groups, vesper services, dinner music in the centrum, radio plays and special occasions. In "semi-retirement" Ginnie became the every-other week organist at First Baptist Church of Big Rock (IL), and later Evangel Baptist Church in Wheaton. She retired from public performance in 2020 at age 90.

Ginnie also served by participating in committees. She worked with Wheaton Academy Alumni Association events for the class of '48. She worked with Alumni Weekend Committees for Wheaton College class of '52 and was the first woman to be elected President of the Wheaton College Alumni Association (1980). At Windsor Park she participated as a member of the New Resident, Management Advisory, Music, Instrument and other committee(s).

She will be remembered for her deep love – of Jesus, Glenn, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends. She was a lady of strength and dignity, ever polite and patient, and a gifted keyboard musician. Our loss is Heaven's gain.

Visitation (3pm) immediately followed by funeral service (4pm) on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 at Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Avenue, West Chicago, IL 60185. (Please use entrance N8 on the North side of the church.) The service will be livestreamed through this link: Funeral Service for Ginnie Heck . Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Covenant Living at Windsor Park , Benelovent Fund, attn: Kathy Cornell, 124 Windsor Park Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188.