Donavan W. Heimbigner

Donavan Walter Heimbigner, age 55, passed away on February 5, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida.

A funeral service will be 2:00 Pm on Saturday, February 25 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chester, followed by burial at the Chester Cemetery.

Donavan was born on September 20, 1967 in Havre, Montana to Donald Elwin Heimbigner and Betty Ann (Lerum) Heimbigner while the family resided in Chester. He was the first born of two sons. Donavan attended Kindergarten through High School in Chester, Montana. During his high school education, Donavan worked for Senator Kolstad and Hardin Brothers unloading concrete bags. He graduated from Chester High School in 1986. He attended MSU-Northern in Havre, Montana for a degree in Diesel and Gas Mechanics. During this time, Donavan worked at City Motor Company in Great Falls, Montana through a college work program.

While attending college, he met Debra Dawn Jacobson, and the two were married on June 8th, 1991 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Malta, Montana. During his marriage to Debra, Donavan worked for Delta Motors in Malta, Montana. The married couple later moved back to Chester where he worked at the shovel factory. On April 29, 2000, they welcomed their only child, Zakary Alexander Heimbigner (Hudson) into the world, shortly after, in 2001, they divorced.

Shortly after the divorce, Donavan moved to Salem, Oregon around 2002, where he worked on maintenance of logging trucks. A year later, in 2003, he moved back to his hometown of Chester, Montana where he worked for Adrian Hawks before working with cattle and helping farm for Grant Flauge.

In 2005, after a working incident, Donavan moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he lived with Lucinda Dantas. During 2005 and 2006, Donavan hauled liquor to Governor Jeb Bush and the Daytona Speedway. On November 4, 2007, Donavan and Lucinda welcomed Lena Mary Dantas into the world. Two weeks after Lena's birth, Lucinda tragically passed on November 19th. In 2007, Donavan met Natalie Lucas and the two remained together until his passing.

Donavan is survived by his father, Donald Elwin Heimbigner of Chester; his brother, Conrad Clifford Heimbigner (Lianna) and his nephews, Severin Clifford Heimbigner and Walter Anton Heimbigner of Big Sandy; children, Zakary Alexander of Chester, and Lena Mary Dantas of Jacksonville, Florida; ex-wife, Debra Dawn Jacobson of Chester; and wife, Natalie Lucas of Jacksonville, Florida.

Donavan is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Ann (Lerum) Heimbigner; and his former spouse, Lucinda Dantas.