Donald Heggen M.D.

Donald Meroy Heggen, MD, age 83 passed away peacefully on September, 27th 2024. Don was born in New Rochelle, NY on March 25th, 1941. The only son of Abner Meroy Heggen and Viola Ethel Lunberg. The family moved to Dearborn, MI when his father took a job as an attorney at Ford Motor Company. The family later moved to Bloomfield Hills where he graduated from Bloomfield Hills High School class of 1959. He attended the University of Michigan class of 1963 and University of Michigan Medical School class of 1967. He enlisted in the Air Force July 1971 and served at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, KS as a Major.  He later moved to Grand Rapids and at Spectrum Health where he was chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department for many, held a private practice in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and was Adjunct Professor at Michigan State University. In 2013 he was awarded the Distinguished Physician Society Award in Obstetrics and Gynecology for extraordinary contributions to the quality of care provided to patients and families and service to Spectrum Health. 

Don loved music and often tinkered with electronics, sounds systems, tube amplifiers and would listen to his vinyl record collection. He always had an active fish tank.  He loved his dog Charlie. He enjoyed his 1976 Eleganza II GMC camper. He was able to travel with his daughter Kathryn to Mexico and on an Alaskan cruise. He also often invested himself in others during the healing process from recovery. 

In 1963 he was united in marriage to Sylvia Heggen (Longyear) of Bloomfield Hills, MI who survives. Also, surviving is his son Jonathan Heggen and Elizabeth (Redford) Heggen of Ferndale, MI, daughter Kristyn (Kiki) and Andrew McKendrick of Glen Mills, PA, 6 grandchildren; Lindsay McKendrick, Gavin McKendrick, Cameron McKendrick, James McKendrick, Samuel Heggen and Elsa Heggen. He was preceded in death by his son Eric Heggen (1996).

In 1982 he was united in marriage to Susan E. Heggen (Irwin) of Farmington, MI who survives They resided for 15 years in East Grand Rapids and had one daughter Kathryn Heggen.  Don lived his last years in Lowell on Timpson close to Kathryn and found final comfort at Maple Ridge Manor.  

For those who wish, memorials may be made to The Barn for Equine Learning in Lowell, MI. www.thebarnforequinelearning.org  

A Celebration of Life will be held at his favorite restaurant First Wok on Old 28th St. on November 2nd from 3 to 5pm. Please join us for light refreshments, memories, pictures and stories of this good man and father. 

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