Doris Heimerdinger

Doris I. (Bronner) Heimerdinger age 79 of Lawler, IA, passed away peacefully with her loving family beside her on Tuesday April 29, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2014, at Immanuel Lutheran Church – Crane Creek, rural Lawler, with Pastor Vincent Fricke presiding. Interment will be at Saude Lutheran Cemetery with Jeremy McGrath, Joshua McGrath, Matthew McGrath, Nathan Loes, Aaron Loes, Brian Lepa and Samuel Lepa serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Talia Heimerdinger, Casey Heimerdinger, Carly Heimerdinger, Kenedy Heimerdinger, Breanne Loes, Samantha Edwards, Tessa Reicks, Toni Babcock and Kelly Maloy. Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2014, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton, Iowa. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Doris was born on July 12, 1934, in Winneshiek county to Claude and Bessie (Falck) Bronner of rural Lime Springs, Iowa. She was one of eight children who attended a rural country school in her younger years and Cresco High School. Doris (aka Sauerkraut) met the love of her life, through her brother Robert, who thought Doris should write a letter to his army buddy, Merlin Heimerdinger. Their exchange of letters led to falling in love and their marriage on February 23, 1954. To this union, 6 children were born: Deborah (Stephen) Loes (aka Purplina), Champlin, MN; Gary (Sue) Heimerdinger (aka Bitsy), living on the family farm in Lawler, IA; David (Deb) Heimerdinger (aka Beanie/Otis), New Hampton, IA; Karen McGrath (aka Karen Kay from the Milky Way), New Hampton, IA; Cheryl Edwards (aka Kink), West Branch, IA; and Dale Heimerdinger (aka Baby Snot), Lawler, IA. After her marriage, she resided on the Heimerdinger farm for 58 years before moving to Kensington Place in New Hampton in 2012. Doris was quite the homemaker whose excellent cooking was raved about by many. In her mid 50’s, Doris ventured into a new aspect of her life by going to school to receive training to become a nurse’s aid. She was employed by the Cresco Care Center for over 10 years before retiring. Doris was a member of the Crane Creek Immanuel Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid, rural Jerico, IA, and also a member of the Paul Johann Alta Vista VFW Post #4069 Women’s Auxiliary. Doris’ world revolved around her husband, Merlin (who passed before her on 10-11-12), and her family. In her spare time, Doris enjoyed cooking, baking, and visiting with family, friends and neighbors. She had quite the unique gift of gab. She was an accomplished quilter and embroiderer. She loved reading, bingo, playing cards, and an occasional visit to the Casino. Nothing made Doris happier than playing a good game of 31 with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and taking their money. In that, she was ruthless in the most loving of ways. She always had her roll of quarters close at hand. One of Doris’ greatest enjoyments was teaching her family the art of lefse making. She was the lefse queen. She was the founder and president of the annual family Lefse Club where she took pride in passing on her skill to the family. Watching her family compete to make the perfect circle of lefse resulted in many hours of laughter, especially when the perfect circle more closely resembled the state of Iowa. Along with her children, Doris’ highlight in life was watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow and come to visit her. The proud smile on her face when they said “hi grandma” continued until her very last day. Surviving Doris are her 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 5 sisters; Margaret Callahan, Cresco, IA; Shirley (Al) Skoda, Cresco, IA; Claudette (George) Cable, Cedar Falls, IA; Joyce Kach, Hiawatha, IA; Bonnie (Jerome) Samec, Manly, IA; 2 sister-in-laws, Margaret Bronner and Edna Bronner, and many nieces and nephews. Doris is preceded in death by her husband, Merlin; her parents, Claude and Bessie Bronner; her 2 brothers, Robert and Charles Bronner; and her brother-in-law, William Callahan. She will be truly missed for the unique and loving person that she was and may she rest in peace and forever be a Holy dice roller at Heaven’s table.