Erwin Clarence 'Erv' Heimbuck, 87, passed away at his home, Rose Haven, in Custer, SD on March 26, 2010, of congestive heart failure. He was greatly loved and will be sorely missed by his friends and family.

Erv was born to Christine Eichelberg Heimbuch and Karl Heimbuch on December 13, 1922 in Lowry, SD, the eighth of eleven children. He grew up in the Selby and Mobridge areas, graduating from Mobridge High School in 1940. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Jean Grinols on October 10, 1942. They were blessed with four children.

In February 1943, in spite of the fact that he was newly married, Erv voluntarily inducted into the Marine Corps to insure that he would go to the Pacific front, where two of his brothers had been captured by the Japanese. He served at various bases in California until he was assigned to the Fifth Marine Division and shipped to Hawaii in early September of 1944. In January 1945, the division was selected to spearhead the invasion of Iwo Jima. Erv landed on Iwo Jima with the third wave, 12 minutes after the first wave, and served there for 33 days. Erv was one of the three men of his company of 130 who were not wounded or killed. After Iwo Jima, Erv was transferred to Japan with the occupational forces.

He was mustered out of the service on New Year's Day 1946, and headed to Seattle, WA, where Donna and Erwin, Jr. were living with Donna's parents. Erv worked as an apprentice painter for two years before obtaining a job as a bus driver in Seattle.

In 1955 Erv, Donna and their now four children moved to Hot Springs, SD, to buy a small grocery store with Erv's brother, Floyd. In 1957 Erv purchased Floyd's share. In 1960 Erv took a break from the grocery store to serve as the Executive Director at the South Dakota Tuberculosis Sanitarium located at Sanator, SD. Two years later he returned to the grocery store when the Tuberculosis Sanitarium was converted to an adjunct facility for Redfield State Hospital. The store was sold after Erv accepted the position as the first Executive Director of the Hot Springs Housing Authority, which was just starting up. He held this position until his retirement in 1987. During this period Erv oversaw the building of Brookside, a low-income elderly housing facility. Beginning in 1978, Erv oversaw the restoration of the old Evans Hotel, which was converted into an additional 124 units for low-income elderly housing. During his retirement, Erv worked for McColley's Chapel of the Hills.

Erv was an active member of the United Churches in Hot Springs, served as County Commissioner for Fall River County, and was active with the Chamber of Commerce. He and Donna traveled after their retirement and enjoyed gardening, golfing, restoring homes, and visiting the children and grandchildren.

Erv is survived by his four children; Erv, Jr. (Helen) of Scottsdale, AZ; Judith (Cory) Wackerbarth of Bozeman, MT; Bruce (Gail) Heimbuck of Guernsey, WY and Glenda (Tim) Haley of St. Joseph, MO; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers and two sisters. Preceding him in death were his wife Donna, his parents, three brothers, two sisters and one grandchild.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at the United Churches in Hot Springs, SD with Pastor Morris Nelson officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.

Should friends desire, the family suggests donations to The United Churches or to the American Heart Association.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapels of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.