Heather Kae Friest

Heather Kae Friest, 44, passed away peacefully on All Saints' Day, Sunday, November 2, 2025 at her host family home.
Heather was a beloved granddaughter, daughter, sister, and cousin whose precious smile and beautiful red hair graced everyone she met. Heather blessed Greg and Shelley (Ritland) Friest on December 24, 1980 and was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Radcliffe, Iowa.
Heather was known for her love of books, especially large colorful catalogs. She would always have tears of complete joy every birthday and Christmas when gifted with a large catalog from her family, but brother Clint's big tool books were her utmost favorite. Heather would flip through the pages so much that she would have black fingertips-that's when you know it was a good book! Heather loved to be home and in her comfy pink sweatpants baking with her mom. She was in charge of running the mixer for the many creations her and Shelley whipped up in the kitchen to share with others. Heather loved her M & M's, or m's as she called them and would wash them down with her favorite drink, Diet Mountain Dew, that she called "green". Heather's most favorite staple when she was home was Shelley's homemade macaroni and cheese or "roni" as she and the family would call it. When Heather wasn't helping mom in the kitchen or looking extensively at her books, she also enjoyed matching cards. Grandma Friest would come over often to play cards with Heather until all decks of cards were matched and both were tired. Heather also loved to rock in her chair and to dance to music, especially on car rides with her mom and Sissy (Staci) or truck rides with her dad and Clint.
Heather attended school at Pleasant Hill in Marshalltown, Hubbard-Radcliffe school, and school in Ames. Heather lived in group homes in Ames through Mainstream Living then moved to Nevada with Mosaic. Beginning in October 2021, Heather lived with a host family, Edward and Joyce Atta-Opku, in Ankeny, Iowa.
Heather has always had a love of lights and Christmas trees (perhaps it's because she was a Christmas Eve baby). She loved having the Christmas tree and lights up in and outside the house. Heather also loved going on car rides with Edward and Joyce to look at all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations around town.
Those left to cherish Heather's memory are her parents Greg and Shelley Friest of Radcliffe; siblings Staci (Nick) Kinzebach of Cedar Falls and Clint Friest of Radcliffe; nephews Kasen and Riker Kinzebach of Cedar Falls; Grandfather Floyd Ritland of Zearing, and her many relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Floyd and Charlotte Friest and Doris Ritland, and her uncles Parker Friest and Chad Ritland.
Heather will be dearly missed and forever remembered for her warm smile, fearlessness, strength, resilience, and courage. Her loving spirit will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her.
Memorials may be directed to the family at 30513 Co Hwy S27, Radcliffe, IA 50230.