Master Sgt. Luke L. Heitkamp, USAF, 66, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Jan. 2, 2013, at Bay Medical Center following a brief illness.

He was born Feb. 22, 1946, the second of 11 children to Leonard and Edna Elking Heitkamp of Maria Stein. On Aug. 2, 1985, he married Frances Calhoun, who survives in Panama City, Fla.

Also surviving are step-daughters, Kimberly and Julie Vinson, grandsons, Michael J. Vittore III, Austin L. Strassner and L. Anthony Marshall Jr. and a mother-in law, Alice Calhoun, all of Florida; brothers, Stan (Marilyn) Heitkamp of Van Buren, Howard (Susan) Heitkamp and Ted (Janet) Heitkamp, all of Maria Stein; sisters, Lillian (Bob) Guggenbiller of Sharpsburg, Paulette (Jim) Hemmelgarn of Worthington, Viv (Ron) Hartings, Maria Stein, Bert (Tom) Giere of Powell, Brenda (Dave) Moran of Celina and Annette (Russ) Wortman of Westerville; and a brother-in-law, Jeff (Anne) Heckman, New Bremeand and numerous nephews and nieces, cousins, and friends.

Deceased are his parents and a sister, Gladie Heckman.

Luke was a 1964 graduate of Marion Local High School and enlisted with the Air Force in 1964, serving until 1990. He received many decorations, medals and citations while stationed in Florida, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Colorado, Germany, Iceland, Iran and Vietnam. Following his military life, he worked with Bay Co. Parks and Recreation from 1992 until he retired in 2006.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Church, Maria Stein, the Rev. Tom Brenberger officiating. Interment with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.