He was 11 years old, alone on a ship—heading from Germany to America where people spoke a language he didn’t know. Hardship that would strike fear in most adults dimmed in light of young Frank Hecht’s brave spirit of gratitude and promise for what his future could hold. The young immigrant saw only opportunity in what lay before him.

It was an opportunity he actively sought in 1922. He was the oldest child in a German family, and they were starving. Food parcels came often from his uncle who lived in the United States. Without his parents knowing, young Frank wrote to his uncle asking if he could come live in what he considered to be a better place.

His Uncle Frank paid his way to Council Bluffs, Iowa. When young Frank tasted his first banana the morning of his arrival, he was convinced he’d made the right decision, and that good things were in store for him.

Before long, the hungry German boy was speaking fluent English without a hint of accent. He attended school, studied hard, and worked harder.

The boy Frank lived and worked for his Uncle Frank Hecht, where he learned a variety of jobs. He saw tasks as opportunities. When he visited Mankato, he fell in love with the area and founded Valley News in the 1940’s. He made the most of the doors opened to him—always appreciative, ever thankful. Remembering the help he received, and quick to help others.

It is with that same spirit of gratitude and caring today that two generations of his family honor his life by providing funds for landscaping around Immanuel St. Joseph’s new heart center. A gift of $100,000 resulted from a unanimous decision from Frank’s five daughters and another $100,000 from Valley News Company, Mankato, the company their father founded. Additionally, 15 grandchildren each contributed $1,000 bringing the family’s total to $215,000.

The family chose to support a landscaping project because of Frank’s passion for trees, flowers and plants.

“This was a fairly easy decision,” said Marge Leiferman, one of Frank’s daughters. “It was immediate for all of us, without hesitation from anyone. Our father loved the outdoors, and planted hundreds of trees all over Mankato. This is a wonderful way to create a legacy for him.” Her sisters, Gwen Thompson, Judy Stoll, Brenda Chupp and Debbie Hecht James agreed.

“We hope this gift helps others who are reflecting on memories by providing a quiet place at the hospital where people can enjoy being outside,” Debbie says. “Our father would have been completely in favor of this idea.”

Frank loved to watch things grow. He not only planted trees, but raised all kinds of vegetables. He especially loved radishes – and gave them away. He became known for his radish parties.

Marge’s son, Troy Leiferman, manages Valley News Company for the family, and volunteers as a member of Immanuel St. Joseph’s Foundation board.  He helped organize the legacy gift to honor his grandfather.

“He would like what we’re doing at the hospital,” Troy says. “His life wasn’t about himself. It was about helping others.” Frank never stopped being thankful for what his uncles did for him.

“My deepest gratitude to my Uncle Frank and my “Uncle Sam” for letting me be an American,” he wrote in part of a full-page thank-you ad he placed in the Council Bluffs, Iowa paper in 1972. This commemorated his 50th anniversary of living in the United States. “I shall cherish it to my dying breath and trust that my children and my children’s children will do likewise.”

Now his family joins together, reaching out with their gift to help others in his memory.

“Members of our family may live in different parts of the country, but we all have strong ties to the Mankato area,” Troy says. “Supporting the hospital’s growth is our way of investing in something for future generations.”

Debbie recalls her father saying, “You don’t plant trees for this generation; you plant them for the next.” That’s what they hope to do with their gift.

Thanks to the multigenerational gift of the Hecht family, over 2,000 varieties of plants including maples, spruce trees and flowers will surround the heart center for Immanuel St. Joseph’s patients and their families to enjoy.