Dorothy (Majerus) Heinz - obituary
Obituary
Object ID:
2018.95Description:
Dorothy HeinzDorothy Heinz, 100 years
old, of Mitchell, died Sunday,
May 28, 2017 at Firesteel
Healthcare Community.
Visitation will be on
Friday, June 2 from 6-8 pm
at 'Will Funeral Chapel,
Mitchell with a rosary service
beginning at 7:00
PM. Funeral services will
be on Saturday, June 3 at
10:30 AM at St. Mary of
Mercy Catholic Church in
Alexandria with visitation at the church 1 hour prior to funeral.
Burial will be at St. Mary of Mercy Cemetery, Alexandria,
SD. Dorothy was born near Alexandria, SD on
October 1,1916 to Angela (Schroeder) and Barney (B.J.)
Majerus. She was raised and educated in the farming
community of Hanson County. After high school graduation
she worked for the Hanson County Courthouse in
the Treasury Office. She married Virgil Heinz, on January
20, 1943 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Initially, they
rented a farm, but in 1953 they bought her parents’ farm
in Alexandria where Dorothy grew up. Together they en-
larged and developed it into the Grade A Heinz dairy
farm, raising hogs and crops to feed the livestock. Dorothy
and Virgil raised five children. Dorothy was a key
part of the farm operation, organizing and helping in
managing the family farm. Because of Dorothy’s strong
beliefs she generously shared her time assisting church
groups such as CCD Teachers, Catholic Foresters, and
farm organizations including the local 4H organization,
and the Farmer’s Union. Dorothy was involved with the
Marian Congress Fatima Family Apostolate from 1987
until it ended. Hosting nuns and priests at her home in
Alexandria. She was an active member of the Waynets
and Helping Hand, as well as supporting her husband
with his organizations. As their children grew and the
farm prospered, they were able to travel, not onlyto all
fifty states, but also to Canada, Mexico, Panama, Galapagos/Equador,
Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and Ireland.
A highlight of their travels was a trip to Dorothy’s ancestral
Luxembourg where they connected with cousins.
Dorothy enjoyed playing cards both with family and
friends. A son-in-law noted that her poker face rivaled
the best. She was hospitable to family, friends, and even
strangers. She was a good cook and well known for it.
Her grandchildren especially treasured her toffee bars,
oatmeal ”cookies, breakfast panCakes and homemade
bread. Dorothy Heinz was a devoted woman of faith,
dedicated to her family and generous to everyone. She
has been and will continue to be an inspiration to us
all. She will be sadly missed by her son Jim Heinz (Lyn)
of St. Louis, MO, her daughter Ann Connors (P.J.) of
Eden Valley, MN, and her son John Heinz (Linda) of
Alexandria, SD. Dorothy has fifteen grandchildren and
twenty great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by
her husband Virgil Heinz, her daughter Susan (Truse-
wicz) Ahrendt, her son Joe Heinz and her sister Leona
Summers.
In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to St. Mary
of Mercy Catholic Church, Alexandria, SD or Hanson
County 4-H Leaders.