OBITUARY: Wilmer A. Hettinger of Mitchell

Wilmer A. Hettinger, 81, of Mitchell, passed away Friday, November 5, 2021, at Torrington Community Hospital in Torrington, WY. His funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Mitchell with Pastor Chris Kester Beyer officiating. The service will be livestreamed on Holy Apostles Episcopal Church’s Facebook page. Interment will follow in the Mitchell Valley Cemetery with Masonic rites provided by Scottsbluff Masonic Lodge No. 201, A.F. & A.M. Friends may visit from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell. Memorials may be made to Holy Apostle’s Episcopal Church or in the form of gift cards sent to the family that will go to the nurses at Community Hospital in Torrington, WY in recognition of the exceptional care given to Will. Online condolences may be left by visiting Wilmer’s memorial page at www.jones-mortuary.com.  

Wilmer Alexander Hettinger was born June 18, 1940, in Mitchell, Nebraska to Alexander and Bertha (Hoff) Hettinger. He graduated from Mitchell High School in 1958, where he enjoyed playing basketball and running the projector at the Nile Theater.  In 1974, Will started his own company, Hettinger’s Heating & Air Conditioning which he owned and operated until his retirement in 2019. Will was a member of the Mitchell Volunteer Fire Department for 25 years, served on the Mitchell City Council, Mitchell Planning Commission, and was currently serving on the Mitchell Board of Public Works at the time of his passing. Will was also past Master of the Mitchell Masonic Lodge and assisted in starting the DeMolay in Mitchell.

Will enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, working on and driving cars, restoring vintage John Deere tractors, hunting, fly fishing, being outdoors, and his coffee shop visits.

Survivors include his wife, Aloha Hettinger; daughter, Corlette (Bobby) Allbaugh of Mitchell; and son, Jim (Amy) Hettinger of Liberty Township, OH; Will was the proud grandfather of 6 grandchildren, Levi Allbaugh of Cheyenne, WY, Alexandra (Matthew) Nation of Gering, NE, Jakob (Rebecca) Allbaugh of Alliance, NE, Cooper Hettinger, Jameson Hettinger, and Joshua Hettinger of Liberty Township, OH and 6 great-grandchildren, Lucca, Xoë, Truett, Rosalynn, Waylon, and Raelyn; sister, Colleen Elliott of Mitchell; and close cousins, Ron (Bonnie) Hettinger, Gary (Marty) Hettinger, and Bobby Hettinger.

Wilmer was preceded in death by his parents, Alex and Bertha Hettinger, and brother-in-law, Jim Elliott.