Gordon "Bud' Heck enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943, trained as a pilot and served with 45 Atlantic Transport Group, Royal Air Force, in Dorval, Quebec. After the war, he obtained his BSC from the University of Alberta and in 1946, returned to the RCAF. In 1949, he attended the Empire Test Pilots course in England, winning the McKenna trophy for the highest standing. Later he was the Commanding Officer of the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment at Canadian Forces Base Uplands, Ontario.

Other senior appointments included: Director of plans at the RCAF Staff College in Toronto; Deputy Chief of Staff for plans and intelligence at Air Defense Command HQ at North Bay, Ontario Comptroller at Air Transport Command HQ in Trenton, Ontario Director General of Evaluation Services at National Defense HQ in Ottawa and Deputy Commander of 21st NORAD Region HQ at Hancock, Field, New York. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from York University.

In 1977, as a Brigadier-General, he was posted to Washington and appointed as the Canadian Air Attache. The following year, he was promoted to Major-General and appointed as the Commander of the Canadian Defense Liaison Staff (CDLS). He retired in 1979.

He is survived by his wife Vivian, and children Karl (Penny) and Clarisa.

Services will be private.