Leon Franklin Heffley, 69, Columbia City, passed away at 11:48 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016 at his home.

Born Oct. 3, 1947 in Auburn, he was the son of Harold Dale and Helen June (Zimmerman) Heffley.

By the age of 10, Leon and his family moved to Fort Wayne where he started working a paper route. When he was not in school or working, he enjoyed fishing with his dad and two younger brothers. He also had learned to play the guitar at a young age and played with his family. By the age of 16, the family moved to Tri-Lakes north of Columbia City.

When he was 18 years old, Leon was drafted into the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1968.  For over 30 years Leon worked for LML Corporation before they closed and he retired from Fort Wayne Foundry in 2010.

On Feb. 24, 1984 he married Toni Johnson after meeting her a few years prior while she was at work.

Besides being a hard worker, Leon loved finishing, organizing his fishing equipment, camping and playing his guitar. He had been a member of the VFW Post #5582 in Columbia City.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Toni Heffley, of Columbia City; daughter, Hollie Heffley, of Columbia City; step-son, Ed Knight, of Huntington; and brother, Bob Heffley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and youngest brother, Brooks Heffley.

Visitation is 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Oct.17 at the funeral home with  John Morgan, Chaplin at Kindred at Home Hospice, officiating. Burial will follow at South Park (Annex) Cemetery where military honors will be rendered by the Whitley County Korean Veterans Honor Guard.

Memorial donations may be made in Leon’s memory to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.