Vera Heinke

Vera B. Heinke, 92, of Bremen passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at the Bremen Healthcare Center. She was born October 8, 1921 to Harvey and Laura (Leeper) Senff in Nappanee, the 6th child in a family of 12 siblings. On November 15, 1942, she married Robert Heinke; he passed in 1994. Vera was a 1939 graduate of Argos High School.

Vera spent nearly her entire adult life in Bremen, living on the Heinke homestead farm since her husband, Bob, returned from service in WWII. She was a long time member of Bremen Salem Church (Bremen United Methodist Church), serving God and community, and treasured her church family as an extension of her own family. Vera is known for being a hard worker, helping friends and family, rock hunting with Bob, crocheting, knitting, farming, gardening, growing flowers (especially violets), playing cards, reading, collecting butter plates, and always trying to make someone else's day better.

No one knows how many eggs she gathered or cows she milked, how many peaches and pickles she canned, how many bottoms she swatted or tears she dried. No one knows if she went to all the places she wanted to see, or sang all the songs she knew, or hugged all the people she loved, or prayed all the prayers she had in her heart, but what she did was enough, because she left this world a better place than she found it.

Vera is survived by her two daughters, Jean (James) Smith of Bremen and Betty (Donna) McKay of Fairview, NC; two sons, Kent (Jo Ellen) Heinke of Jerseyville, IL and Roy (Amy) Heinke of Bremen; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Russell (Fern) Senff of Fountain Hills, AZ, Thelma (David) Miller of Walkerton, and Bonnie (Harold) Bagley of Bremen.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, and eight brothers and sisters.

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, October 28, 2013 at Mishler Funeral Home, Bremen. Burial will follow in the Bremen Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-6 PM on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to Bremen United Methodist Church Building Fund or Bremen Youth Ministries, in care of Josh Walter.