Kenneth Heideman

1942 - 2015

HEIDEMAN, Kenneth Kenneth Earl Heideman was born August 1, 1942 in Brenham, TX to Bernhard Heideman and Margaret Gogolin Heideman. He passed away September 2, 2015 at age 73 at his home in Richardson. Ken grew up on his parents' farm and graduated from Brenham High School, Class of 1960. After 2 years at Blinn College, he finished his BA at Texas A&M with a Mathematics major and an Economics minor. He married Rebekah (Becky) Diann Eilers in 1966. After earning his MBA at Texas A&M he completed the doctoral program in Quantitative Business Methods at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. They returned to College Station where he taught at Texas A&M. Ken left the academic world in 1981 for a job with ARCO and a move to Dallas. His career at ARCO included executive training, internal consultant work, and industry leadership roles. He enjoyed traveling to Europe, Dubai, and an extended assignment in Alaska. He collected matchbooks in his travels and brought gifts home for his family. An active leader in every church he attended, Ken joined King of Glory Lutheran Church in 1982. He served in positions of outreach, capital campaigns, church council, foundation board, and twice as congregation president. He was a VNA Meals on Wheels volunteer for 20 years. Ken was married to Becky for 47 years. They traveled often to family functions, an annual trip to Wisconsin, and to bed and breakfasts all over the country. Although they had no children of their own, Ken and Becky were active godparents to many other beloved children. Ken took great pleasure in food, both cooking and eating. He enjoyed gardening and had a green thumb, a family trait he shared with his mother and brother. He was a devoted son and caretaker of his mother for many years. Ken is survived by his nieces, Heather Heidemann of Tampa, Florida, Dawn Heidemann of New York City, and Alyssa Heidemann of Tampa, Florida; his fiancé Becky Kearns of Plano, Texas; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife Becky, his brother Paul Heidemann, his parents, his parents-in-law, Pastor F.E. and Erna (Roitsch) Eilers and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Monday, September 7 at Allen Family Funeral Options. The memorial service will be Tuesday, September 8, at 1:00 pm at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 6411 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, TX. Memorials may be designated to the King of Glory Foundation or MOSAIC. For more information and to leave condolences please visit www.affoplano.com