Arlene Frances Heitmann, 02 Feb 1925 - 23 Jul 2017

HEITMANN, DEVILDER, BLOMME, MCCOMBS

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 3/11/2018 at 17:36:52

Services for Arlene Frances Heitmann, 92, Victor, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Smith Funeral Home, Victor, with the Rev. David Wilkening, pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church in Williamsburg, officiating.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Arlene Heitmann Memorial Fund.

Pallbearers will be David Beran, Kenny Blomme, David DeVilder, David Heitmann, Mike Heitmann, Russell Heitmann and Dennis Shine. Organist will be Verabeth Bricker and soloist will be Deb Davidson. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Victor.

Mrs. Heitmann died Sunday, July 23, at Colonial Manor of Amana, Middle Amana.

Arlene Frances DeVilder was born Feb. 2, 1925, on a farm southeast of Victor, the daughter of Arthur William and Julia Emily (Blomme) DeVilder. She lived at the DeVilder home since 1933 and graduated from Brooklyn High School with the class of 1942.

After graduation, she worked the summer for Kenneth Thatcher with Farm Bureau in Brooklyn and when he moved his office to Des Moines she decided to stay in Brooklyn to help her father farm. During this time she also helped her three uncles, a cousin and two neighbors make hay when needed.

On Oct. 26, 1946, she was united in marriage with Karl William Heitmann, a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Brooklyn. The couple farmed southeast of Victor and raised three children, Ronald, Richard and Rhonda. They kept busy with a dairy farm and later converted their business raising stock cows and hens. At one time they had 5,000 hens and produced 96 dozen of eggs per week. Karl preceded her in death in 2002.

Arlene was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor and the Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the Victor American Legion Auxiliary and the H and W Club.

She enjoyed playing for houses dances, with her mother, during the 1930s, 1940s and part of the 1950s where she played the accordion, mouth harp, guitar and violin. She enjoyed telling stories, playing cards and socializing with family and friends over a cup of coffee. Her biggest joy was her love for her family and all their activities.

She is survived by two children, Ronald (Debra) Heitmann, Amana, and Rhonda (Steven) McCombs, Petersburg, Ill.; one granddaughter, Elsie Heitmann; and one daughter-in law, Judy Heitmann of Reno, Nev.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her son Richard in 2017, and a grandson in infancy.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 02 Aug 2017
The Gazette, Posted on Wednesday, 26 July 2017