Dr. William Anthony Heffron Jr, 87, of Centerville, Iowa, peacefully passed away at his home on May 11th, 2022, in the company of loved ones. On September 22, 1934, Bill was born to adoring parents, William and Mary Heffron at their Georgetown, Iowa farm. Bill was raised with his sister, Mary Anne, in an Irish community where both sides of his family homesteaded in the 1840s. After Bill graduated from St Patrick’s High School in 1953, he farmed for 3 years then moved to Des Moines in 1955 to work as a welder at Eagle Iron Works. In 1957 he enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, attending classes by day and working nights as a welder at J.I. Case. Bill earned his chiropractic degree in 1960 and after briefly practicing with his cousin Dr. Gene Judge in Princeton, Illinois, Bill and family moved to Centerville, Iowa. He practiced for the next 58 years. In all that time, he missed half a day’s work, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to the care of his patients. For many of those years he proudly worked alongside his son, Dr. Larry Heffron. In addition to his practice, Bill raised livestock, ran the Georgetown family farm after his father’s death, built apartment buildings with his wife and close friends Chuck and Theresa McCarty, served on the board of St. Mary’s School, served as Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus and was heavily involved in the building of the new Knights of Columbus hall and an addition to St. Mary’s Catholic School. He mentored and advised many young chiropractors including his own 4 sons and daughter and shared his ever present wisdom with his two youngest, as they pursued teaching and law degrees. Bill attended years of Parker Chiropractic seminars, served several roles in state chiropractic organizations, was a 60 year member of the Appanoose County Country Club, and served as a lector and eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Centerville. He gave his time and talents to many philanthropic and community organizations including being a fervent supporter of his wife, Justine, in all of her various political and civic fundraising events. In 1956, he met the love of his life Justine Carole Polich, at a party in Des Moines. Following a 2 year courtship, involving lots of farm fresh eggs, Bill & Justine were married on July 5th, 1958 and went on to have 7 children; Dr. Lawrence Edward Heffron (Carol), Dr. Patrick Sean Heffron, Dr. Sheila Maureen Heffron-McGreal (Joe), Dr. William Anthony Heffron III (Tammy), Dr. Daniel John Heffron, Rochelle Kay Dickhoff (Mike), & Paul Justin Heffron (Sarah). Bill enjoyed reading, pheasant and quail hunting, improving the family farm, playing bridge, mushroom hunting, working in the yard, tinkering in the barn, attending and hosting family reunions and other celebrations. The barn parties he and Justine hosted were the stuff of legend. He was generous with his time and resources to St Patrick’s Church of Georgetown, for which his ancestors helped quarry stone and build on the fertile prairie of Monroe County, Iowa. In his youth, he played on the championship 4 H softball team in Georgetown and was noted for his speed. What Bill made perfectly clear was his pride and profound joy he had for his family. Whether you were a son, daughter, wife, a prized grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, sister, in-law or surrogate relative, he showed his affections with a booming laugh, firm hug, love of stories and ability to be truly present. Whenever told what a wonderful father/Papa he was, his reply was always, “I learned from the best.” Bill was predeceased by his parents, William Anthony Heffron (1896-1973) & Mary (Mae) Margaret Judge Heffron (1905-1995), who were married in 1930, and a stillborn son, Michael Heffron (1962). He is survived by his wife, Justine, his children Lawrence, Patrick, Sheila, William III, Daniel, Rochelle, & Paul, and his sister Mary Anne Bradley. Also surviving Dr. Heffron are his 14 grandchildren, Molly Heffron, Quinn Starla Heffron, Patrick McGreal, Dillon McGreal (Caitlin), Jack McGreal, Maggie McGreal, Colin McGreal, Finn Heffron, Thad Sells, Justine Hamilton, Harrison Hamilton, Logan Hamilton, Michael Heffron, Thomas Heffron and Mary Heffron. Friends are invited to join Bill’s family on Friday, May 20th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Centerville, Iowa for a Visitation from 4-7pm. (Rosary at 4:30pm) A Memorial Prayer service will be held at 6:30 pm in which family and friends will share their memories. Join our celebration of his life at a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Centerville on May 21st at 10am and burial at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Georgetown, IA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rathbun Lake Area YMCA of Centerville, Iowa.