Al Hetke's Obituary
Adolf “Al” Hetke, age 85 of Brooklyn, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Al’s family and friends will gather on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 3:00-7:00pm with a vigil scripture service at 7:00pm at Eineder Funeral Homes – Brooklyn Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 11:00am following visitation at 10:00am at St. Rita Catholic Church, Clarklake, Michigan. Rev. Fr. Bosco Padamattummal will serve as celebrant. Burial to follow at Jefferson Cemetery.
Al was born on November 13, 1940, in Kalisch, Germany to Siegesmund and Anastasia (Gularski) Hetke. At the age of 15, Al boarded the USS General W.C. Langfitt with his family and set sail for a new life in America. Determined to make the best of every opportunity this new country gave him, Al worked hard to make friends, learn English, and rise to the top of his class. He graduated from Cass Technical High School and a few years later, married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia Doddie. They were married on June 16, 1962, in Detroit, Michigan.
Al continued his education earning a metallurgical engineering degree from General Motors Institute (Kettering), a masters degree in manufacturing systems from the University of Michigan, and a MBA from Michigan State.
God blessed Al and Sylvia with three wonderful children, Kurt, Erich, and Angie. While they were growing up, Al coached baseball, lead boy scouts, and never missed a daddy-daughter dance. He was a loving father and husband who provided for his family in every way he knew how.
Al worked for Ford Motor Company and VP Market Development Nemak for several years before starting his own company, Hetke Consulting, in 1998. He spent the next 27 years bettering the processes of aluminum casting and held several patents.
Al never truly retired, but as the years passed and he was blessed with grandchildren, he began to enjoy other hobbies. He and Sylvia moved to Lake Columbia in Brooklyn, Michigan and embraced life on the lake. From fishing with his grandchildren, to making sure the jet ski was running, to piloting the pontoon, Al made sure that everyone around him had a good time. He enjoyed gardening and had the most beautiful hydrangea bushes that Lake Columbia has ever seen. Al also loved the years of driving his grandchildren across the US in the RV and taking trips to see friends and family, and was a longtime parishioner of St. Rita Catholic Church in Clark Lake
Al is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sylvia; his children, Kurt (Jamie) Hetke, Erich (Angie) Hetke, and Angie (Steve) McKee, as well as 10 grandchildren: Veronica, Luke, Cade (Ariel), Tanner (Georgia), Tyler, Grace, Troy, Nathan, Josh, and Greta, his brother-in-law: Jack (Doris) Doddie, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Grette Harris, and great-grandson, Asher Hetke.
Al lived a life of perseverance, determination, and love. He overcame adversity with humility and encouraged others to do the same. He created a legacy that lives on in the hearts and lives of all who knew him.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) at [email protected] .
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