Lester "Les" Heitke

Lester J. Heitke, 76, of Willmar, died Saturday, May 24 at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. His Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Thursday, May 29 at Church of St. Mary’s in Willmar. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, Wednesday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Willmar. A livestream link can be found here. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home. www.hafh.org

Lester “Les” John Heitke was born on February 5, 1949, in Portage, Wisconsin, to Clarence and Irmina (Beckius) Heitke. He spent his early years in Portage and graduated in 1967 from Holy Name Seminary High School in Madison. Les continued his education at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in theology.

Following his studies, Les moved to Minneapolis and began working with youth ministry at Discovery House. His passion for helping others led him to pursue a second master’s degree in psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. During his time in Minneapolis, while leading music at Christ the King Catholic Church, Les met Cherie Boyer—the love of his life.

On August 27, 1977, Les and Cherie were married at Christ the King Catholic Church. Together, they were blessed with two sons, Adam and Mark. Les remained with Discovery House until accepting a position at West Central Community Service Center in Willmar, now known as Woodland Centers.

Les was deeply committed to public service and left a lasting impact on the Willmar community. He was elected to the Willmar City Council in 1988, serving until 1994, when he was elected mayor—a role he held with dedication until 2010. His leadership helped Willmar earn the designation of an All-American City, and he played a key role in establishing a sister-city relationship with Frameries, Belgium, which gifted Willmar the water fountain now located in Selvig Park.

Beyond his role in government, Les served on numerous community boards, including the Bethesda Foundation, Economic Development Commission, Rice Hospital, and United Way. He also held leadership positions statewide and nationally, serving as president of the League of Minnesota Cities, vice president of the National League of Cities, and president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities.

A man of strong faith, Les was an active member of the Church of St. Mary, where he served as a council member, trustee, and lector. He had many passions, including Civil War history and stained glass, but above all, he cherished time with his family—especially his grandchildren.

Les is survived by his beloved wife, Cherie of Willmar; sons: Adam (Sarah) Heitke of Colorado Springs, CO, and Mark (Sam) Heitke of Minneapolis; and grandchildren: Alexa (fiancé Michael), Claire, Noah, Maximos, Walt, and Graham. He is also survived by his siblings: Beverly Heitke and Louis (Tia) Heitke; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Irmina, and siblings: Norma Jean Borman and Father Lawrence Heitke.

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