Regina Joleen Simmons 1958 - 2022
SIMMONS, STEWARD, BLAKE
Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/23/2022 at 12:50:04
Regina Joleen Simmons, 63, of Onawa, Iowa passed away Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at her home.
A memorial service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa led by Mike Kennedy. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Regina’s obituary. A private family burial will be held at a later date in the Graceland Cemetery, Blencoe, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.
Regina Joleen Blake was born September 24, 1958 in Onawa, IA to Ralph “Sonny” and Delores (Steward) Blake. The fourth of seven children and the only girl, Regina grew up in Onawa and attended West Monona Community School from kindergarten until her graduation in 1976.
Regina married Johnie Simmons and they had two children, Gabriel “Gabe” and Brandi. John and Regina later divorced but remained friends and even spent holidays together with John’s wife, Vanessa, and their son William. Regina loved Will and enjoyed having him over to bake cookies at Christmas time.
As a young woman, Regina held various jobs around town, but the majority of her adult years were spent cooking and tending bar at the VFW. Her outgoing and witty personality made her a favorite of many patrons. Every year when the bar closed early on Christmas Eve, Regina would invite her friends over for snacks and drinks if they had nowhere to go.
Regina loved spending time outdoors with her children as much as possible. Their childhood was filled with memories of bike rides, playing catch with their mom, and swimming and camping at Gorham’s Dam with her and all of their aunts, uncles, and cousins. Regina also loved having bonfires, going to Timber Ridge with friends and taking her dogs to run and swim.
Once her children were grown, Regina found companionship with Keith Heisterkamp and remained with him until his passing in 2018. They spent their time tending to their garden and taking their Boston Terrier, Zoe, to run at Decatur Bend. They had their share of ups and downs, but Keith and Regina always looked after one another.
The greatest joy of Regina’s life was becoming a grandmother. She was blessed with two granddaughters, Mia and Nadia, and she absolutely adored them. Much to their mother’s dismay, Regina let the girls play in the mud, use their arms and legs as art canvasses, have indoor water fights, and generally run wild. She loved her role as the fun, crazy grandma (her words) and made sure to let them have fun and do the things their mom was “too boring” to do. She took her job seriously and ensured that she was always stocked up on cookies and other goodies for her girls. Regina also gained two bonus granddaughters, Mackenzie and Mackayla “K-Bug” Poole, and really enjoyed getting to know and corrupt them. She sure got a kick out of seeing them all together!
Despite her fierce and unwavering love for her family and friends, Regina’s later years were plagued by grief and depression, which led her to alcohol addiction. She had a kind and generous soul and loved with her whole heart, but her demons won. Regina fought an internal struggle that no one was able to help her win. She succumbed to her addiction at her home on August 16, 2022. Although Regina is already sorely missed, her loved ones are comforted in knowing that she is no longer in pain and that she has finally been reunited with her mother, who’s death she never quite recovered from. Regina’s mischievous sense of humor, love of singing and dancing, and thirst for knowledge can already be seen in her granddaughters and will undoubtedly live through them. They have already vowed to “keep howling at the moon just like Grandma!”
Regina is survived by her son, Gabriel of Rochester, Minnesota; daughter, Brandi Velasco (Brad Poole) of Blencoe, Iowa; granddaughters, Mia and Nadia Velasco of Blencoe, Iowa and Mackenzie and Mackayla Poole of Onawa, Iowa; brothers, Mike Blake of Onawa, Iowa, Kevin Blake of Washington State, Craig Blake of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Mark (Kathy) Blake of Surprise, Arizona; along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and her 14-year-old dog and constant companion, Zoe.
Regina was preceded in death by her father, Ralph “Sonny” Blake; mother, Delores Blake; brothers, Doug and Brian “Barney” Blake; her companion, Keith Heisterkamp; and some aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, Regina’s family requests that you direct donations in Regina’s memory to Rosecrance Jackson (Jackson Recovery) at 800 5th Street Sioux City, Iowa, 51101, where she fought her battle with her addictions and mental health.
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