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04/30/2014 01:00 PMNile H. Heermans, 102, of East Haven, passed away peacefully on April 28 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. He was the beloved husband of Kathleen (Kate) Moran Johnson Heermans. Nile was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1912, son of the late Rev. Nile W. and Charlotte May Jackson Heermans.
He served his country faithfully as a sergeant in the 71st Division of the Third Army under Patton in the European Theater in WWII, receiving two bronze stars. Nile was employed by the American Steel and Wire Company in New Haven for 40 years. He was an active member of Christ Church Anglican in Branford and for many years senior warden and lay reader for the Episcopal Church in East Haven. He was a member of the Adelphia-Momauguin Lodge of the Masonic order for more than 50 years. After his retirement, Nile was a volunteer driver of the East Shore District Health Department and was involved in various activities for the Town of East Haven under former Mayor Anthony Proto. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 89 of East Haven.
He was the loving father of Nile (Mary) Heermans of Painted Post, New York. He was the beloved grandfather of Kara (Chris) Halm of Beresford, South Dakota, and Molly Heermans of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Nile was predeceased by his first wife, Francis Heermans, and his second wife Frieda (Fritzie) Heermans. He was also predeceased by his brother Rev. Harry Heermans and his sister Charlotte McGurdy.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. May 4 at the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven. Family and friends are invited to meet and attend a funeral service on May 5 at 10:00 a.m. in Christ Church Anglican, 965 West Main St., Branford. Burial with military honors will follow at East Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Mr. Heermans. For an online obituary, visit www.ClancyFuneralHome.com.