Michael V. Heckaman, 44, of Nappanee, Ind., died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, unexpectedly at Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart, Ind.

He was born July 14, 1969, in South Bend, Ind., to Clark Heckaman and Sherryl (Fletcher) Tobias. He was a lifetime area resident.

Michael was extremely into cars — especially hot rods — and he loved working with wood. He was an excellent handyman and loved to fix things.

He married Betsy L. Thomas on Oct. 7, 1989, in Nappanee. She preceded him in death on Sept. 7, 1995.

He is survived by a son: Travis Heckaman, Nappanee; his mother: Sherryl (Bill) Tobias, Nappanee; his father: Clark (Peg) Heckaman, Nappanee; a girlfriend: Sue Hoffer, Nappanee; a sister: Michelle (Luke) Lesley, Columbia City, Ind.; a half-brother: R. Luke Tobias, Chicago, Ill.; a step brother: Mark (LeAnn) Osborn,  Nappanee; and grandmother: Margaret Altheide, Nappanee.

He was preceded in death by grandparents: Harold and Helen Heckaman.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 3, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, also at the funeral home. Pastor Terry Tyler will officiate. Burial will follow at Stony Point Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael Heckaman Memorial Fund.