Orville "Ollie" Albert Heitkamp

Orville (Ollie) Albert Heitkamp of Belle Plaine passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025, surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be held on October 21, 2025 at 11 am at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be held on October 20, 2025 4-7 p.m. at Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and will continue one hour prior to the service on Tuesday morning at Trinity Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery immediately following the service.

Ollie was born on October 28, 1931, in Dahlgren Township, Carver County, to Otto Ludwig Heitkamp and Ida (Graupentine) Heitkamp. He was baptized into the Christian faith on November 29th, 1931, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine on May 20, 1945. He attended Elementary school in Blakely, MN and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1948. He attended the University of St. Thomas and graduated in 1952. He served in the United States Army in South Korea from 1953 to 1954. In 1954, Ollie met Luella Kruschke at Keup Motors in Belle Plaine, Minnesota, while buying his first car. They were married on November 22, 1956 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scott County MN.

Ollie continued his education at the University of Minnesota and Mankato State University, where he graduated in 1956 with a degree in education. He began teaching that fall at Belle Plaine High School, where he taught Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Photography, and Independent Studies until he retired in 1987. He also coached boys basketball from 1956 - 1970 and continued his involvement in the athletics by keeping score for basketball and volleyball until 2014.

Ollie had great respect for the outdoors, working for the Minnesota State Conservation Department as a Game Biologist for ten summers. He was also a founding Board Member of the Ney Nature Center in Henderson, Minnesota, where he served for many years and taught carving classes into his 80’s. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and always looked forward to his annual hunting trips with his family and friends.

Believing in the importance of contributing to his community, Ollie served on the Belle Plaine City Council from 1983 to 1986 and many years on the Church council at Trinity Lutheran Church.

After retirement, Ollie was able to enjoy his passion for woodworking. His work included carved ducks, rocking horses, furniture, music boxes, and other projects.

He is preceded in death by his parents; infant brother Earl; sisters Ruth, Delores and Adaline; and grandson David Keup.

He is survived by his wife, Luella; children, Jennifer Heitkamp, Sharon (David) Schultz, Diane (Karl) Keup, Kent (Joan) Heitkamp

Grandchildren: Kyle (Megan Berkowitz) Blume, Matthew Heitkamp, Abby (Gregg Stutman) Blume, Scott Keup, Christopher Heitkamp, Drew (Madison Fors) Keup, and great-grandson Nathan Heitkamp; sister Betty Lenz; brother Ervin (Lynette) Heitkamp; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Ney Nature Center or the Orville Heitkamp Dollars for Scholars Fund.

A special thank you to the amazing caregivers at Kingsway Retirement Living, LifeSpark Hospice, and inHome Senior Care.