Garland J. Heesch, 86, of Grand Island passed away July 9, 2017 at Tiffany Square Care Center surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM, Friday, July 14 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church with Reverend Edgar Schambach officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 PM at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com.

Garland was born on May 24, 1931 at Grand Island, NE to Peter and Lydia (Ewoldt) Heesch. He grew up in Phillips, NE on a farm. He received his education in Phillips and graduated from Phillips High School in 1948.

He was united in marriage to Delores M. Anderson on November 20, 1954 at St. Pauls English Lutheran Church in Grand Island. After which the couple lived in Grand Island. He began his working career working for John Claussen and Sons and Budweiser. He then started his career with the United States Postal Service. He began as a letter carrier in Grand Island and retired 40 years later as the Postmaster of Phillips, NE.

Garland entered the United States Army, serving during the Korean War entering on March 19, 1952 and was Honorably Discharged on February 20, 1954.

He was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church, the American Legion, Platt-Deutsche Society and the Saddle Club. He was an avid Husker Football fan and card player. He especially enjoyed watching the activities of his grandchildren.

Garland is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Carol and Terry Meier and Pam and Troy Spencer all of Grand Island; 5 grandchildren, Wendy Rickard and her husband Jake of Grand Island, Amy Boyer and her husband Grant of St. Libory, Lindsey Lilienthal and her husband Trenton of Grand Island, and Andrew and Ryan Spencer, both of Grand Island; one sister, and one brother-in-law, Norma Jean and Gail Wert of Aurora.

Additional survivors include six great grandchildren, Emma, Madilynn, Garrett, Harper, Henry and Charleigh; a brother-in-law and his wife, Russel and Jan Anderson of Grand Island; and sister-in-law, Myrna Petzoldt of Grand Island.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores; his parents; brother, Arnold; and great granddaughter Katelynn Boyer.