Gordon "Gordi" Bennett Heldt, II (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Gordon “Gordi” Bennett Heldt, II was born January 4, 1958 in Elgin, Illinois, to Gordon Bennett Heldt, Sr. and Gereldine Sullivan Heldt. He passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was sixty-eight years, four months and twenty-nine days of age.
Gordi grew up in Elgin and moved to Conway, Missouri in 1972. He graduated high school from Conway High School. On May 22, 1981, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Cheryl Duff. Together they made many wonderful memories and had just celebrated forty-five years together.
After moving to Conway, Missouri, Gordi and Cheryl joined Community Baptist Church and have been members there for twenty-six years. Gordi was active in Awana Club and the Fisherman’s Club at the church and had a real gift for working with children.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Gordon, Sr. and Gereldine; his father-in-law, Lonnie Duff; and a sister-in-law, Tammy Kurtz.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl; his siblings, Will Heldt, Kathy Demrow, Elizabeth Mielke, Danny Heldt and his wife Jody, Jimmy Heldt and his wife Sherry, and John Heldt and his wife Carla; his sister-in-law, Julie Smith and her husband Beau; his nieces and nephews, Nathan Hill, Ryan Hill and his wife Janessa, Christopher Kurtz and his wife Lauren, Amanda Reid and her wife Emma, Bec Denrow, Nick Denrow and his wife Melissa, Clayton Heldt and his wife Hailey, Ciarra Nipple and her husband Devon, Megan Tignor and her husband Paul, Melinda Mielke, Courtney Mielke, Danielle Heldt and David Heldt and his wife Sara; many great-nieces and nephews; two mothers-in-law, Linda Garr and Elaine Duff; his church family and many, many friends.
Gordi was a man of many talents and lived life more than most people ever will. He could fix just about every kind of vehicle imaginable and loved his Jeep Willys wagon. He would drive it to many area car shows and looked forward to talking to others about his vintage automobile and many off road adventures. He was called the “Head Mule”.
He could ride bucking horses and hunted with the best of them. He was always helping friends and neighbors whenever they needed a helping hand.
Gordi and Cheryl had welcomed nine foreign exchange students into their home over the years and Gordi enjoyed not only learning about their culture, but teaching them the American way of doing things. He enjoyed teaching the students, as well as several generations of young men and women, to love the outdoors and enjoy life. He taught kids how to ride horses, how to work hard, and how to enjoy the simple things in life.
Gordi loved everything fast and loud. He liked riding wheelies on four wheelers, dirt bikes and motorcycles. He built hotrods, Jeeps and dune buggies and loved driving them around when they were finished, well, as much as a hobby vehicle can be finished.
He worked hard every single day of his life, and later in life would run his own business. No matter what, he always had a smile, a laugh and a story to tell.
Gordi was one of the kindest, most caring, fun-loving, genuine men you could ever meet. He embraced life, every moment, every person, every opportunity, and brought joy, to help, to teach, and lead. He was a walking testimony of faith and love. He loved the Lord and led by example.
Gordi loved big and he made sure everyone around him knew it. He was fiercely loved by his family and friends. Everyone is a better person because of him. He knew how much he was loved and appreciated.
His legacy isn’t just in the memories, it’s in the way he lived and loved without hesitation. He always chose joy, even when it wasn’t the easy choice.
He was an amazing husband to Cheryl. We will honor him by being a little kinder, by showing up a little more, loving a little bigger, helping whenever we can, and living life to the fullest.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11 a.m. at Community Baptist Church.
Visitation will be Friday evening, from 5- 7:30 p.m. at Community Baptist Church. Burial will be in Ozark Chapel Cemetery. A memorial to Community Baptist Church has been established and donations may be left at the funeral home.
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