Donald H. Heeb of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2021. He was 84 years old.

Don is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Billie Jean Heeb (nee Scharringhausen); daughter Robyn Corwin (Jamie); and son Chris (Kathy). His grandchildren include Justin (Ellen) and Mikayla Corwin; Holly, Dillon, Chase, and Preston Heeb. Don is preceded in death by his father, Henry Heeb and mother, Artie (nee Amrhein) Heeb of Chaffee, Missouri, and his sister, Mary Dell Heeb of St. Louis. Don also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Don was raised in Chaffee, Missouri. He attended St. Ambrose Catholic Elementary School. He lettered in football, baseball, basketball, and track at Chaffee High School. In 1954, he was an all-star defensive end in the Polio Bowl in Cape Girardeau, Missouri after his senior year. Don earned a football scholarship to Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and completed his Bachelor of Science in Education. In 1955, Don’s football team was unbeaten as MIAA Champions. He was later inducted into the SEMO Hall of Fame in 2003. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Don went on to earn a master’s degree in Education in 1963 from University of Missouri, Columbia. While at SEMO, he met the love of his life, Billie Jean. They were married in 1959 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Webster Groves, Missouri.

Don started his teaching and coaching career at McBride High School in St. Louis in 1959. He taught history and was a football and track coach. His B Team won the Catholic Athletic Conference Championship. A few years later, Don joined the faculty and coaching staff of Mercy High School in University City where he continued to teach history and became the head coach of football. In 1966, Don became the Head Football Coach at Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri. He also coached the golf team and became the Athletic Director. From 1967 through the end of his career, Don earned multiple awards for Coach of the Year, including the Denver Miller Award in 1987 and the MCC Award in 1994. Don was nominated for the 2006 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year by his former player, Trent Green of the Kansas City Chiefs. Five of his high school players went on to successful NFL careers.

As a coach for over 30 years, his football teams won 210 games and 12 conference titles, made 8 playoff appearances, 3 state quarterfinals and 1 semifinal. He ended his athletic director/football coaching career in 1996 after being inducted into the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995. He was the first individual in the history of the St. Louis Officials Association to be honored as both a coach and a football official.

Although successful in his career, Don’s greatest accomplishments were off the field. He was more concerned with building positive relationships with students, players, colleagues, family and friends.

In retirement, Don enjoyed a good game of golf, watching his grandchildren play various sports, and traveling abroad and within the United States with his wife, Billie. He also enjoyed vacationing at the Lake of the Ozarks with friends and family. Don loved working for the St. Louis Rams NFL football team keeping statistics while watching his former player, quarterback Trent Green.

Don was never one to pass up a good meal with family and friends. He loved to bar-b-que and top all his meals with his beloved ketchup! His only regret in life was not buying stock in Heinz.

Although medical issues began to occur, Don never lost his wonderful sense of humor and his incredible ability to tell remarkable stories. He carried a strong sense of faith in God until the end as a member of St. Catherine Laboure Church of Sappington, Missouri.

A Celebration of Life will occur on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 12:00 PM in the Vianney Field House, 1311 S. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, Missouri. Because Don impacted so many lives, the Heeb Family is establishing a scholarship fund to keep his legacy alive at Vianney High School.