Ramona L. Heins

Ramona Louise Heins, 86, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Riverdale and Kearney, NE, died Sunday, October 23, 2016 with her family by her side. Funeral services will be at 10:00 am Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney. The Reverend Duane Duley will officiate, assisted by the Reverend Luke Timm of Clive, IA. Interment will be at 1:30 pm Friday at First Lutheran Cemetery in Buffalo, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm Thursday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney, Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst, the 4-H Memorial Fund or the donor’s choice in honor of Ramona Heins. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Ramona was born on January 18, 1930 in Geneva, Nebraska to Louis C. and Lydia H. (Wittmack) Laun. She was baptized on February 25, 1930 and confirmed on May 7, 1944 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Geneva. She grew up and received her education in Geneva, graduating from high school in 1948. In 1953 she graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and that same year moved to Dawson County where she worked for the Dawson County Extension Office. Ramona was united in marriage to Arthur “Art” J. Heins on May 1, 1955 in Lexington, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Dawson County until moving to Riverdale in 1969. Ramona worked as an extension educator for the Dawson and Buffalo County Extension Offices for 25 years. In 2005 Art and Ramona moved to Kearney. Mr. Heins preceded her in death on July 18, 2015. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Amherst and Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Kearney where she was active in the Altar Guild and LWML. Throughout her life, Ramona’s deep faith remained constant, and she passed her love for the Lord on to others as she taught Sunday School for many years. She was also a member of numerous professional organizations. Ramona enjoyed gardening, sewing and cooking. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends. She especially looked forward to gathering with her family during the holidays. Survivors include three daughters, Robin Boell and husband Doug of Kearney, Laura Kelley and husband Vince of Gering and Kay Bauer and husband Troy of Dallas Center, IA; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a sister, Virginia McCluskey of Martin, TN; a sister-in-law, Lola Heins of Gothenburg; a cousin, Jim Biba of Geneva; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ramona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a grandson-in-law.

Ramona L. Heins

January 18, 1930 - October 23, 2016