Laverne Elmer "Heine" Heineman

CRYSTAL LAKE -Laverne "Heine" Elmer Heineman, 72, of Appleton, Wis., formerly of the Crystal Lake and Britt areas, passed away peacefully on Friday (March 31, 2006) at Angelus Retirement Center in Appleton, Wis.

Laverne's visitation will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2006. His funeral will immediately follow at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Robert Snitzer officiating. Interment will be at the Crystal Lake Cemetery. Military graveside services will be provided by Crystal Lake American Legion Post No. 209.

Laverne was born in Bremer County on Jan. 6, 1934, the son of Elmer Martin Heinemann and Lucinda Thoms. He attended Oran High School until he graduated in 1951.

On Dec. 5, 1951, he enlisted in the Navy. For the next three years, he was stationed in Norman, Okla. After his term, in 1955, he returned to Iowa and started working for the Arlington, Iowa, co-op. In September 1958, he began building grain elevators.

In October 1958, Heine moved to Fayette, Iowa, where he purchased and operated the Heineman Texaco Service Station.

On Aug. 14, 1960, he married Myrna Jean Scheffler from Dixon, Ill. She was a fourth-grade teacher in Fayette, Iowa.

In 1972, Heine moved to Crystal Lake, Iowa, where he and his wife raised their family that included his brother, Keith. He started his employment with Winnebago Industries, from which he retired in 1995.

Heine adored gardening, fishing, sports, animals and playing cards. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved his three children, his brother, eight grandchildren and extended family.

Heine is survived by his son, Lanny (Sandy) Heineman, of Clinton, Utah; two daughters, Janet (Kent Berger) Heineman-Berger, of Appleton, Wis., and Heidi Heineman, of Studio City, Calif.; eight grandchildren, Cody Heineman, Tyler Heineman, Morgan Heineman, Madison Heineman, Kennedy Berger, Carson Berger, Kylie Berger, and Benjamin Laverne Heineman; his brother, Keith (Sue) Heinemann, of Sachse, Texas. His wife's family, nieces, nephews, and other relatives further survive him.

Heine is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Myrna; his sisters, LaDonna, Doris and Verla; and his brother-in-law, Dick Welsh.

Heine's family would like to thank the staff at the Angelus Retirement Home and the AseraCare Hospice Staff.

We will truly miss our self-proclaimed King of Hearts champion.

Ewing Dugger Funeral Chapel, 178 Center St. W. in Britt, is in charge of arrangements.

Ewing Dugger Funeral Chapel, (641) 843-3839.