Florence E. "Dolly" Hankes Heer 1909-2009

HEER, PIERCE, HANKES, BARNHART, HORSTMAN, DALE, WISSING, WHITE, MIHALAKIS, MILLER, GULL, ANDEREGG, WALKER, AULWES

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 1/14/2009 at 13:55:33

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Teusday, January 13, 2009

Florence E. "Dolly" Heer

ELKADER, Iowa -- Florence E. "Dolly" Heer, 99, Dubuque, formerly of Elkader, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque, following a long illness.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubuque, with the Rev. Steve Rosonke officiating. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Leonard Funeral Home. Elkader. Friends also may call after 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the church.

She was born on June 23, 1909, in Hastings, Minn., daughter of John J. and Elizabeth C. (Pierce) Hankes. She married Lawrence J. Heer in 1928, in Galena, Ill.; he preceded her in death on June 28, 1949. Two sons were born to this union.

Dolly worked at J.C. Penney's and later the Blackhawk Industries, both in Dubuque.

Florence and Lawrence made their home in Dubuque for many years. She moved to Elkader to care for her mother several years after the death of her husband. Her brother, John, moved "home" following his retirement, and they continued to live at their home on Fawn Hollow Road, rural Elkader.

She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Ladies Guild during this time.

Doll loved a good visit with her family and many friends. She liked to bake cookies and bread. She loved spoiling her cat and dog.

Surviving are her sons, Eldon J. Heer, of Dubuque, and Robert E. (Diane) Heer, of Zwingle; four granddaughters, Rebecca (David) Barnhart, of Colesburg, Barbara (Clarence "Pete") Horstman, of Colesburg; Jodi Heer and Laurel (Terry) Dale, both of Omaha; a grandson, Shawn (Jeannie) Heer, of Maquoketa; a granddaughter-in-law, Jean Heer, of Greely, a brother, Jim (Arletta) Hankes, of Millville; a sister-in-law, Muriel Hankes, of Charles City; stepgrandchildren, Harold (Nancy) Wissing, of Dubuque, Patricia (Charles) White, of Huntley, Ill., Robert (Shari) Wissing, of Longmont, Colo., Charles (Lori) Wissing, Mary Jo (Louis) Mihalakis and Kenneth (Anna) Wissing, all of Dubuque, Jane (Marc) Miller, of Colesburg, Dennis (Marci) Wissing, Naples, Fla., David (Angie) Wissing, of Dubuque, and Timothy Wissing, of Council Bluffs; 12 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; a great-great-great-granddaughter; 23 stepgrandchildren; 10 stepgreat-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Charles Hankes and John Hankes; two sisters, Elsie Gull and Josephine Anderegg; a grandson, Gregory Heer; two great-great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be given to Hospice of Dubuque.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.leonardfuneralhomes.com.

Special thanks to Florence's three nieces, Norma Walker, of Des Moines, Joyce Anderegg, of Marshalltown, and Susan Aulwes, of Cedar Rapids, Stonehill Care staff and Hospice of Dubuque.