Howard W. Heidke 1901-1970

HEIDKE, WEBSTER, STORY, WEDERQUIST, COLSTON, ELLWOOD

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/25/2011 at 23:09:03

Howard Heidke, 69, Dies in Hospital at Rochester
Howard W. Heidke, 69, died at 11 p.m. yesterday following surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minn., to correct an aneurysm on the aorta and extensive vascular damage. He suffered several cardiac failures yesterday.

He had been in the electrical contracting business in Estherville since 1942.

A son of William and Carrie Heidke of Estherville, Mr. Heidke was born May 15, 1901. He was graduated from Estherville High School in 1917. From 1924 to 1931 he was employed as a traveling electrician for the Rock Island railway.

He was married in 1926 at Des Moines to Maree Webster The couple lived in Kansas City six years and then moved to Estherville in 1932 to live on an acreage east of Estherville, where Mr. Heidke operated a chicken farm.

In 1940 he began working again as an electrician here and in 1942 opened his own business, the Heidke Electric Company.

He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Presbyterian Church.

Survivors are his widow; a sister, Mrs. E. J. Story; sons, Howard Jr. of New Orleans and Sgt. 1st Class Jon C. of Fort Bliss; two daughters, Donna Wederquist of Colorado Springs and Mrs. James (Johanna) Colston of Roanoke, Va.; seven grandchildren; and a nephew, Joe Ellwood of Aurora, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Chester, William and John; and a sister, Ruth Ellwood.

Services are pending at the Reese-Henry Funeral Home. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 6, 1970)

Funeral Rites Thursday for Howard Heidke, 69
Funeral services for Howard W. Heidke, 69, well-known Estherville electrical contractor, have been set for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Reese-Henry Chapel in Estherville with the Rev. H. Allen Wirtz officiating.

Following the services the remains will be taken to Minneapolis for cremation, and interment will be at a later date, relatives said. Friends may call at the Reese-Henry Chapel after 3 p.m. Wednesday, until the time of service.

Mr. Heidke died Monday night at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn., following a difficult vascular surgery.

He had been in the electrical contracting business in Estherville since 1942. Previously he had operated a chicken farm near Estherville and had been a traveling electrician for the Rock Island railway.

Mr. Heidke was a member of the Elks Lodge, the Estherville Golf and Country Club and the Presbyterian Church. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, October 7, 1970)