Clem was born on May 22, 1946, in Baltimore, MD. His early years were spent living and working on a dairy farm with his brothers Benjamin, Phil, and Steve. As a teenager, he moved with his mother and brothers to Beaufort, South Carolina, where he finished high school. Shortly after graduating from Beaufort High School in 1965, he was drafted into the United States Army to serve in Vietnam.
After leaving the Army, Clem moved to Port O’Connor, Texas, where he met his wife, Barbara, of 42 years. Together, they welcomed two daughters, Candace and Cristin.
Clem spent over 30 years working for his brother, Ben, at Victoria Air Conditioning. Over the years, he took on various roles, including project manager and senior supervisor, where he was instrumental in overseeing major installations and maintenance projects. He retired in 2012 leaving behind a legacy of professionalism and integrity.
While Clem was incredibly proud of his professional accomplishments, his greatest pride and joy came from his role as a father and grandfather. Clem had a special bond with his daughters, Candace and Cristin. While Clem adored his daughters, his favorite role was being a Grandpa to his two grandsons, Carter and Reese. He cherished every moment spent with them, creating lasting memories and sharing his passion for life. Clem's deep love for his family was evident in everything he did, and his legacy will live on through the lives of his daughters and grandsons
Clem was known for his vibrant personality. He had a remarkable gift for connecting with people; he never met a stranger, as he could strike up a conversation with anyone. His family often joked that there would not be a funeral home big enough to hold all the people who would want to pay their respects. One of his favorite things was cars. In his younger years, he would rebuild old Corvettes. When life got too busy, he switched to just enjoying driving around and attending car shows with his Corvette.
Clem’s loss will be deeply felt by all who were fortunate enough to have him in their lives. His warm presence brought joy to those around him, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him. His stories, filled with humor and insight, never failed to bring smiles to those around him.
Clement is survived by his wife, Barbara Penland Heilker of Pflugerville, daughters, Candace Heilker Mathes (Lonnie) of Reseda, California, Cristin Heilker Sellers (Jordan) of Midlothian, TX; brothers, Benjamin F. Bond Heilker Jr. (Gay) of Victoria, Phillip Heilker (JoJo) of Beaufort, South Carolina, Stephen Heilker (Cheryl) of Charleston, South Carolina and his grandchildren, Carter Mathes and Reese Sellers. Clem also leaves behind many nieces and nephews to cherish his memory.
Visitation for family and friends will be Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 10-11 am at Rosewood Funeral Chapel with a funeral service to follow at 11 am. Clement will be laid to rest at Hawley Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Jordan Sellers, Warren Heilker, Richard Smith, Lloyd Boedeker, John Hickman and Mike Duran.
Honorary pallbearers are Benjamin Heilker Jr., Phillip Heilker, Stephen Heilker, Henry Penland, A.B. Black, Juan Reyes, Larry Schmidt, Darren Heilker and Mark Walton.
Memorial donations may be made to any Veterans Organization of your choosing.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
