Nancy Heitz

Beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend Nancy Joyce (McDonald) Heitz departed this life on
June 20th, 2023 in Rogers, Arkansas at the age of eighty-six.
Born February 16th, 1937 in Albany, Indiana, Nancy was a graduate of Southport High School
and attended Indiana Business College in Indianapolis. She married Richard "Dick" Heitz in
November 1953, with whom she had four children. Dick's career in the United States Air Force
took them all over the country, and after living in Indiana, Idaho, New Jersey, Texas, Florida,
North and South Carolina, and Louisiana, they settled in Rogers, Arkansas, where Dick became a
corporate pilot for Hudson Foods after retiring from the Air Force. They lived in Rogers for the
next four decades.
Nancy was an exemplary military wife who cared for her children during Dick's frequent
deployments abroad. She became an expert in navigating new cities while acting as a single
parent to four children and a dog. After raising her family, Nancy became an employee of
Wal-Mart, where she worked for several decades in accounts payable. Sharing a meal with
Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton in the employee lunchroom was one of her favorite memories.
Nancy will be remembered for her compassion, both for the less fortunate and for all living
creatures. She was an expert cook who fed her family very well and shared her recipes with
others. She was a master of many handicrafts, including sewing, knitting, and crocheting and
especially loved creating afghans for family and friends. She had a beautiful singing voice, and
spent many years singing with the women's traveling choir Amazing Grace and in the choir at
Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers, where she was a faithful member for many decades.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Dick, and is survived by her younger brother, Dick
McDonald (Cheryl), her four children, Bruce Heitz (Teresa), Karen Grattafiori (John), Lisa
Durham (Jim), and Karla Monson (Brian), as well as two nephews, nine grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
Nancy's family is very grateful to Jamestown Nursing and Rehab Center for their years of caring
and Circle of Life Hospice for their amazing care during a very difficult season.
A memorial service will be held on July 22nd at 11AM in the sanctuary of Peace Lutheran
Church in Rogers, Arkansas. Anyone attending is invited to bring along a handmade gift they
received from Nancy to display the extent of her creativity and giving nature.
Nancy will be inurned alongside her husband at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made in Nancy's name to Peace
Lutheran Church Food Pantry or to Circle of Life Hospice of Northwest Arkansas.