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Ervin Clair Heller, 93, of Toledo died Tuesday, Oct.13, 2009 ,at the Marshalltown Medical and Surgical Center.  A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church Worship Center in Toledo with Pastor Mary Schnepf officiating.  Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo.  A memorial visitation will be held on Monday, Oct. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m.  at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
  Ervin was born on June 11, 1916, in Koszta, Iowa, the son of Jesse H. and Clara (Young) Heller. The family farmed near Koszta and later Marengo. The family then moved to Grundy Center. Ervin lived with his uncle Leo Young while he completed high school and graduated from Marengo High School. He worked for the Amana Colonies and his uncle’s farm while in high school. He qualified for the state track meet as a sprinter. 

Ervin returned to Grundy Center where he met and married Marion Snyder.  He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Ervin worked at Pioneer in Reinbeck, and as plant manager in Dysart and Toledo. He later accepted an assignment in the Pioneer Overseas Division, where he developed seed production facilities in Brazil, Chile, China, India, and several eastern block European counties. Ervin retired to his farm in Toledo and later moved to Carrington Place Apartments. 

Ervin and Marion raised a family of eight children. He served on the School Board, and was active in the Lions and Masons. Ervin was instrumental in the formation of the South Tama County School District.
 He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marion, on Aug. 22, 2002; two brothers, Orrin Heller and Richard Heller; one sister, Gertha Lynch; a son-in-law, Alan John Spillum; and a grandson in infancy.
 Survivors include eight children, Janet (Dennis) Kaisand, Arlington, Texas, Elaine (Al) Morrill, Edina, Minn., Daniel (Terri) Heller, Tama, Lois (Bill) Salyer, Waterloo, Don (Betsy Ross) Heller, Pine Island, Minn., Joel Heller, Grants Pass, Ore., Laurel (William) Fryers, Colfax, Ill., and Luther (Nancy) Helle, Montour; 21 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Carl Heller of Cottonwood, Calif., Marvin Heller, Ft. Collins, Colo., and Duane Heller,Joh nston; one sister, Rachel Heller, Grundy Center; ex daughters-in-law, Karen Mattsen, Ottawa, Ill., Gloria Heller, Spokane, Wash., and Nancy Heller, Grants Pass, Ore.; and many nieces and nephews.
 Memorials may be directed to the Toledo Public Library.

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