Carl Edward Heffernan, Jr., passed away on September 15, 2025, at age 88 in Bowling Green, Ohio. He was born January 19, 1937, in Ferndale, Michigan to Carl and Jane Heffernan. Carl attended St. Brigid Catholic elementary school and graduated from Visitation High School in Detroit. At age 16, he met the love of his life, Kay Clarke, who he has been married to for the past 63 years. Carl served his country in the United States Air Force and was deployed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Carl received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. Carl worked for General Motors in the Truck and Bus Division in marketing. He subsequently worked for Ford Motor Company in Dealer Development for many years where he consulted with auto dealers to assist them in improving operations and profitability. Carl eventually was provided the opportunity to purchase one of those dealerships in Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green Lincoln Mercury AMC Jeep.
Carl relocated his family from Livonia, Michigan to Bowling Green, Ohio in pursuit of the dream of owning his own car dealership. For the next forty-five years, Carl loved life as an automobile dealer – selling cars and assisting customers and friends with their automobile needs. He loved improving the dealership building and grounds and was proud of the successful business he built on N. Main Street in Bowling Green, providing a good living and life for his many employees’ families over the years.
Carl loved cars. From his early childhood collection of model cars (which he still kept to this day and adorned his offices) to his “babies,” a collection of vintage automobiles, he simply loved cars. He loved to check out every type of car and discuss the pros and cons of each model.
Carl loved to build. He loved to purchase homes and remodel them. He had a good eye for design and décor, repeatedly updating the dealership and the many homes that he remodeled.
Most of all, Carl loved his family and especially loved spending time with his seventeen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He took immense pride in his family and cherished every moment spent with them. He loved to have his family over for “swim parties” in his backyard pool.
Carl was truly a generous, hardworking, faithful and caring man. There is nothing he would not do for the people he loved. He would never let anyone else pick up the check. He was a friend to everyone he met. He loved socializing and especially enjoyed his weekly Friday dinners with friends. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, where he found strength, community and spiritual fulfillment.
Carl is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Jane Heffernan, his brother Robert Heffernan, his granddaughter Margaret George, and his daughter-in-law Jennifer R. Heffernan.
He is survived by his wife Kay; his children Mary Kay (Michael) George; Joseph (Jennifer L.) Heffernan; John (Sally) Heffernan; and Michael (Kathleen) Heffernan; grandchildren Emily (Sebastian) Gianino; Erin (Ivan Mendoza Leyva) Heffernan; Kaitlyn George, Michael George II, Hannah (Drew) Hasenkamp, Samuel Heffernan, Cameron George, Elizabeth Heffernan, Claire Heffernan, Ryan George, Joseph Heffernan, Owen Heffernan, Ruby Heffernan, Gavin Heffernan, Mary Heffernan, and Elinor Heffernan; and great grandchildren Quinn and Levi Gianino.
Visitation will be held Friday September 19, 2025, at Dunn Funeral Home at 408 W. Wooster Road in Bowling Green Ohio from 3:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. A rosary service will take place at 6:30 P.M. following the visitation Friday evening. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with a Funeral Mass beginning at 10:30 A.M. at St. Aloysius Church, 150 S. Enterprise Street in Bowling Green Ohio, and burial to follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green Ohio.
Memorial tributes should be made to the Diocese of Toledo Scholarship Fund (DOTSF), which can be made online in Carl’s name at https://www.dotsgo.org/about-4, and select St. Aloysius School or another school of your choice as the Designated School. You may also designate the school with the Greatest Need.
