Josephine "Josie" Heideman

Josephine "Josie" Heideman, 93, of Baileyville died Thursday evening, November 16, 2006, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
      She was born September 17, 1913, on a farm northwest of the St. Bridget community, the daughter of Patrick and Barbara Skoch Mulryan. When she was five, the family moved to a farm south of Axtell. She attended the St. Bridget Grade School and graduated from St. Michael’s High School in 1931. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, she went on to teach school in rural Nemaha County at the old Baileyville High School, now torn down, from 1933 to 1936.
      On February 24, 1936, she married Leo J. “Pete” Heideman at St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. They farmed east of Seneca for six years. In the spring of 1942, they moved to the Baileyville community. They purchased a farm south of Baileyville in 1961 where they lived and farmed until May of 1982, when they retired and moved to Baileyville. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 1981. Her husband died on August 14, 1982.
      She was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and also a member and past officer of the Altar Society and a member of the Benedictine Oblates. She enjoyed quilting and in the late 1940s started making silk flowers for all occasions, but especially for weddings. She was known locally as "the Flower Lady." She also did volunteer work for the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center in Seneca.
      Her son LeRoy and his wife Deanna, of Topeka, survive her; in addition to two grandchildren; Kevin Heideman of Sierra Vista, AZ, and Kristi Bolen of Emporia, KS; and four great grandchildren, Kalie Heideman, Kyle Heideman, Cale Bolen, and Morgan Bolen.
      Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Barbara Jean, on September 25, 1943; two brothers, Dennis and Victor; and two sisters, Barbara Buessing and Laverne Lierz.
       Mass of Christian burial will offered by Abbot Ralph Koehler, O.S.B., and Father Al Fey, C.P.P.S., at 11 AM Monday at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Burial will be at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Seneca. Rosaries will be 2 and 7 PM Sunday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
      Memorials are for Sacred Heart Church and Midland Hospice House of Topeka and should be sent in care of the family.