Lois Jean (DeBoest) Heimberger (2024)

BEJARNO, COURTNEY, DEBOEST, DRAKE, HEIMBERGER, HUSBAND, MUELLER, NABERHAUS, REED, SHEPHERD

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 9/11/2024 at 17:29:55

Johnson Family Funeral Home
Stuart Chapel
Stuart, Iowa

December 19, 1927 – September 8, 2024

Lois Jean (DeBoest) Heimberger peacefully entered into her eternal rest on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Lois was born on December 19, 1927 to Jess and Winifred (Husband) DeBoest at a farm near Dallas Center, Iowa, where she spent her childhood. Joining her on the farm were sisters Betty, Marjorie, and Joan, and brother Richard (Dick). Lois attended school at Dallas Center Community School through 6th grade. Then, after her family moved, she went to Adel Community School through her junior year. It was there she met her future husband, Walter Heimberger. She then returned to Dallas Community School (after her family purchased a new farm) for her senior year, where she was chosen homecoming queen.

After high school, Lois attended courses at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, enabling her to teach in a country school. She recalled fondly her days teaching little ones up through eighth graders. Her daughters and granddaughters who became teachers enjoyed hearing tales of her legacy. When the country schools closed, Lois then worked in Winona Lake, Indiana, for the Brethren Missionary Herald Publishing Company.

After Walter returned from service in the US Army in Europe during WWII, he and Lois were married and began life on a farm south of Dexter, Iowa. It was there that they raised four children: Jean, John, Julie, and Jo Ellen, and mourned the short life of baby boy Kenneth Karl. Lois enjoyed her role as farm wife- planting a big garden, canning and freezing its bounty, and planting many beautiful flower beds, which amazingly included hybrid tea roses that always survived the harsh winters. Lois was a faithful member of the local Christian ladies’ fellowship and was a member of Grace Brethren Church in Dallas Center for many years, then joining the Stuart Congregational Church in later years. She was always willing to volunteer her time to help neighbors and raise money for new band uniforms or other worthy causes. She never failed to send a birthday card to each and every family member, right down to the littlest great-grandchild, with heartfelt comments added to each, even when writing was physically difficult. Her family has known her as their most fervent prayer warrior through the years, a role she faithfully continued until her last day.

Lois and Walter enjoyed fishing trips to the Branson area, and several other adventures to places far from home, such as Alaska and Hawaii, as well as winters at their home in Arizona. They continued to enjoy the desert winters until Walter’s health made it necessary to remain in Iowa year-round. In the fall of 2015, they moved to an assisted living apartment in the Willows at the Community Care Center in Stuart. There they enjoyed time with their fellow residents, some of whom were friends and neighbors from farming days. They were blessed with excellent care by the wonderful staff throughout their time there.

Lois is survived by her daughter Jean (Ken) Shepherd of Dallas Center, daughter Julie (Garry) Naberhaus of Dexter, daughter Jo Ellen (Dale) Mueller of Mound, MN, and daughter-in-law Ann Heimberger of Dexter. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren: Jason (Lisa) Shepherd, Abbey Drake, Betsy (Marco) Bejarno, Pamela Heimberger, Karl Daniel (Emily) Heimberger, Andy (Rachael) Naberhaus, Kelly Reed, Katy (Eddy) Courtney, Ben (Kiersten) Naberhaus, Jesse Naberhaus, Rose Naberhaus, Sarah Naberhaus, Joseph Naberhaus, Emily Naberhaus, Christopher (Megan) Mueller and Nathan (Megan) Mueller. She has also enjoyed knowing twenty-six great-grandchildren: Ian, Noah, and Tatum Shepherd; Gavin, Coy, Fynn, and Emery Drake (who shared her December 19th birthday!); Max, Nora and Merritt Bejarno; Parker, Emmett, Hazel and Jack Naberhaus; Xander, Soren and Eris Reed; Win and Regina Courtney; Boaz and Grey Naberhaus; Sky, Arren and Indigo Mueller; Micah Mueller; and Jade Heimberger.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; sister Betty, and brother Dick; and sons John and Kenneth (in infancy).

Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Congregational Church of Stuart, The Willows Assisted Living of Stuart, or to a charity of your choice, in memory of Lois.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 P.M. on Tuesday, September 17th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Stuart. Funeral service will be held at 10 A.M. on Wednesday, September 18th at the First Congregational Church of Stuart. Services will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page (facebook.com/StuartFCC). Burial will be in the Dexter Cemetery

Proverbs 31: 10-31

Transcriber's note: The Heimberger farm is located in Penn Township, Madison County, Iowa where all of the Heimberger children graduated from Earlham Community School.

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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