Rodney Dale Heilig, 64, of DeWitt, Iowa, died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice
House in Bettendorf. Rodney was born Dec. 30, 1952, in Maquoketa, Iowa, to Marvin “Mike” and Eva
(Edleman) Heilig. He graduated from Lost Nation High School, attended Scott Community College, and
graduated from Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Among other occupations, Rodney served as a Deputy
for the Clinton County Sheri’s Department, retired as Sergeant of the DeWitt Police Department, and
was an EMT at Genesis-DeWitt. He was previously married to Christine Minor, the mother of his two
children. Rodney married Merlene Jackson on Sept. 7, 1996, at Olde St. Ann’s Church, Scott County Park.

Rodney was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Calamus, Iowa, and the Iowa State National
Police Association. He enjoyed NASCAR (Ford Power!), fishing, traveling, gardening, driving trucks,
working on vehicles, and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs. He is survived by his wife,
Merlene; children, Matthew (Samantha) Heilig of Long Grove, Rachel (Shea) Smith of Bennett;
grandchildren, Avery and Ashton Heilig, and Harper Smith; his mother, Eva Heilig of DeWitt; brothers,
Ronald (Lana) and Roger (Carol); a sister, Robin (Doug) Hansen; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in
death by his father and a nephew. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, at Schultz Funeral Home,
DeWitt. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017, in the funeral home. Interment will be
at a later date. In lieu of owers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Rodney D. Heilig
Memorial Fund, to place a monument in the community he served.