Frederick Bill Heidtman, Ii

Frederick “Bill” William Heidtman II of Ottawa Hills, Ohio, passed away in his home surrounded by loved ones early in the morning on April 2, 2018. He was 84 years old. The son of the late Frederick William Heidtman Sr. and Margery L. Chase, Bill was born June 6, 1933. An adventurous child with the scrapes and bruises to prove it, Bill loved riding his bike and climbing trees. Despite this tough side, Bill was light on his feet and became a skilled dancer in middle school after learning the steps from his sister. Bill spent his summers during grade school at Devil’s Lake where his father would rent a cottage. It wasn’t long before Bill was a strong enough swimmer to make it across the lake. Curious by nature, he loved diving into the lily pads to catch turtles and would care for them in an enclosure he built near the lake. Later in life, Bill shared this love of “lake life” with his children and many grandchildren when he purchased and renovated a cottage on his cherished boyhood lake. Throughout his life, Bill was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman, first winning a trophy as a young man in a Devil’s Lake sailing race. His love of golf started at age 10 when he learned to play at Heatherdowns Country Club. Sport took Bill far. He would later play on the DeVilbiss High School golf team, earning a golf scholarship to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While in college, he won a number of golf tournaments and had a scratch handicap at Heatherdowns where he won a pot-of-gold tournament in addition to at Inverness Country Club. A talented athlete, dancer, and singer, Bill was popular among young ladies. Leaving Miami University to attend Toledo University in his hometown, Bill married his college sweetheart, June Foltz, in 1953. Around that time, he joined his father and sister at the family business, Heidtman Steel Products, a premier supplier of flat rolled steel products in the Midwest. Bill started out shearing steel, but would later takeover the company from his family. After the death of his father Fred in 1962, Bill bought Heidtman Steel Products from his mother on a land contract in 1966. Bill continued the success of the business for many years making it his life’s work until his retirement. Together Bill and June had four children – three boys and a girl – that they would often take on family ski trips to Boyne Mountain in Michigan and beyond to Colorado. Bill also loved to fish, and frequently went on trips throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, often taking his sons with him to pass on his love of outdoor sport. The Florida Keys was a favorite destination. Bill married Gloria Komives in 1985. Spending their golden years together, the two enjoyed hosting family members for backyard pool parties and for holiday weekends at their Devil’s Lake cottage, which they purchased after spending several winters in Florida and deciding they wanted a place the entire family could easily access and enjoy. Grandpa Bill was always ready to take his grandchildren water skiing and to load up the pontoon boat for a sunset cruise around the lake. Bill is survived by sister Louanne H. Emerson (Mike) of Clearwater, FL, son Thomas Heidtman (Cammie) of Bedford, MI, daughter Linda Heidtman of Toledo, OH, and son Jeff Heidtman (Laura DeCocker) of Bedford, MI, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also leaves three stepsons, David Cook (Heidi) of Bedford, PA, Christopher Cook of Toledo, OH, and Shane Komives (Alicia) of Perrysburg, OH. He is preceded in death by wife Gloria Heidtman, first wife June Stalder, son Frederick “Billy” William Heidtman III, and grandson Michael Heidtman. Visitation will take place on Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Avenue from 2 until the time of Funeral Services at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bills memory may be directed to Shelton Park Church of God, PO Box 790, 8702 Douglas Rd., Temperance, MI 48182 or ProMedica Hospice, 5855 Monroe St. #201, Sylvania, OH 43560. Online condolences may be placed at walkerfuneralhomes.com