Ipswich: Mass of Christian Burial for Bernadine "Bernie" Heinz, 82, of Ipswich, is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ipswich. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
A Liturgical Wake Service will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday with visitation starting at 5 p.m. all at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Bernadine (Bernie) Theresa Heinz was born Aug. 12, 1931 to August and Regina (Fischer) Braun. She grew up on a farm near Craven and attended country school. At the age of 19 she worked in Aberdeen at the King Pin Bowling Alley and then the Red Owl courtesy counter until she married Lawrence Heinz on June 24, 1952. They were the first to be married in the newly-built Holy Cross Church. Together they built their home in Ipswich and raised seven children.
Bernie worked at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in housekeeping for close to thirty years, keeping the floors waxed and the walls painted and papered. Bernie was extremely creative. She decorated over 7,400 delicious cakes for family and friends, painted pictures, and wrote poems and stories. She noted what people liked to eat and strived to make them what they most enjoyed including donuts and knoephla soup. Bernie always had a freezer full of goodies and was ready to serve whoever stopped by. She enjoyed attending Holy Mass, praying the rosary, singing in the choir and playing pinochle. Bernie was a member of the Holy Cross Altar Society and chaired the semi-annual rummage sale.
Bernie will be remembered for her diligence and desire to serve her Church, community and her family. She was generous with her time and talents, always ready to help.
Bernie moved to Aberdeen in June 2012, where she continued to inspire others with her goodness and perseverance during a difficult illness. Bernie was able to attend her granddaughter's wedding last weekend in Brookings. She died on Sunday morning, Sept. 1, 2013 praying the rosary while family kept vigil at her daughter's home.
Bernie is survived by children, Larry (Cindy) Heinz of Onaka, Jack (Susan) Heinz of Philip, Tim (Sheri) Heinz of Brookings, Cherie Heinz of Aberdeen, John Heinz of Ipswich and Tammy (Mike) Kost of Aberdeen; siblings Katherine Markovetz, Loretta Reinschmidt and Jessie (Dan) Lacher of Ipswich, and Dee (Mel) Hottman of Cottage Grove, Minn.; and son-in-law Terry (Jill) Dosch of Aberdeen. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Amanda Heinz of Kansas City, Mo., Garett (Amy) Heinz and their sons Mac and Lux of Olathe, Kan., Matt Heinz of Tea, Misty (Jason) Brech and their sons, Connor and Bralen of Brandon, Philip (Kelly) and sons Timothy and Charlie of Mesquite, Texas, Lindsey Dosch, Logan Dosch, of Aberdeen, Angela (Tanner) Nash of Sioux Falls, Trevor Heinz of Brookings, Hosea, Caleb, Jonah and Lydia Kost of Aberdeen.