BEDFORD – Longtime community volunteers Jon and Judy Heichelbech have been named Grand Marshals for the 2023 Limestone Heritage Festival parade.
Jon has served the Boy Scouts of America in Lawrence County for over 40 years. He served as President on Boards for the White River Trails District and on the Executive Board. Jon has served on boards at Calvary Lutheran Church and has served as Deacon at First Baptist Church, where he and Judy are members.
Jon has also served on the Bedford Parade committee since the late 1980s, for both the Bedford Christmas and Limestone Heritage Festival Parades. He has been a member of the Bedford Lions Club since 1992, serving in many positions for the Club. He currently serves as Co-chairman for the Lions Pancake events. Jon is part of the Lions team that builds ramps for disabled folks locally. Jon has been a part of the Emmaus Team at Camp Indicoso. He also has worked in Prison Ministry through Kairos.
He is a U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, and he and Judy spend the winter months in North Fort Myers. Jon retired from General Motors as a Development Engineer.
As a board member, Judy helped Calvary Lutheran Church begin its Preschool and stayed active in that role for over a decade.
Judy has served on the Board of Lawrence County Community Foundation and has been a member of the Bedford Lions Club for seven years. Currently, she serves as President of the Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, a local non-profit organization. Judy retired from General Motors Powertrain in Human Resources.
The couple has two children, Jamie (Heichelbech) Nikirk and Adam Heichelbech.
Judy said it is a great honor for her and her husband to be selected as Grand Marshals.
“Both of our community involvement stems from our desire to help make our community a better place. Our past leadership roles in General Motors have aided us in our volunteer efforts, whether it is by time or knowledge; every little bit helps,” said Judy.
The couple say they have enjoyed seeing the positive impact their efforts have had on the community.
“It’s rewarding when you can put a smile on someone’s face or make their day just a little better,” Judy said. “To make their life just a little easier when someone is battling cancer through Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services makes it all worthwhile. This is a great honor for both of us.”
“It’s gratifying to see kids laugh and by getting them involved by participating in a parade, by flipping pancakes for the Lions Club, or to see a person walk out of their house down a ramp for the first time,” Jon said.
The Limestone Heritage Festival will take place on Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24.
The parade will be Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. in downtown Bedford.
Anyone looking to enter the parade can do so for FREE at http://www.downtownbedford.org/parades.
