Kay Lucille (Lothringer) HEITER MEINKE

MEINKE, LOTHRINGER, HEWITT, HEITER, CROSSLEY, RICK, JONES, WARMING, BARBER, WAMSER, GASTER, MITCHELL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/20/2008 at 10:12:07

February 20, 2008
Eagle Grove Eagle, Iowa

February 13, 1936 --- February 14, 2008

Kay L. Meinke, 72, a loving, committed teacher

Kay Lucille Lothringer, the daughter of Herbert and Evelyn (Hewitt) Lothringer, was born February 13, 1936, in Iowa City, Iowa. She was baptized in LuVerne, Iowa, by Rev. Louis Wittenburg, and confirmed in 1954 at College Hill Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls by Rev. Brammer. She was raised most of her life in Humboldt County, Iowa. She attended school in Bode and several country schools until returning to Humboldt in third grade and graduating from Humboldt High School in 1953. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, where she obtained a pre-professional teaching certificate in 1955. Her first teaching position was the Beaver Township schools east of Humboldt. She later taught in the Head Start system in Humboldt. She attended State College of Iowa (University of Northern Iowa) where she received her B.A. in Elementary Education in 1973. She taught in the Goldfield School from 1967-1997. In 1957, she married Gerald Heiter in the Zion Lutheran Church of Beaver Township and to this marriage three children were born: Michael, Cathy, and Thomas. In 1971, she married Elmer Meinke at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove, and with this union was added five stepchildren: Nikki, Carl, Donna, David, Curtis, and a daughter, Cheryl, was born in 1972. She was an active member of the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove and LWML. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and was involved in numerous community organizations and activities.

Kay L. Meinke died on Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, at the age of 72 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer; and a granddaughter, Jennifer. Survivors include her children: Michael (Nancy) Heiter, of Charles City, Cathy (Kent) Crossley, of Hardy, Thomas Heiter of Salina, Kansas, Nikki (Dean) Rick, of Eagle Grove, Carl (Suwalee) Meinke of Leavenworth, Kansas, Donna (Elmer) Jones, of Eldridge, David Meinke, of Hamilton, Curtis (Karla) Meinke, of Goldfield, Cheryl (Matthew) Warming, of Baraboo, Wis.; a sister, Karen (Darrel) Barber, of Onawa; grandchildren: Bethany and Jeffrey Heiter, Kelly, Jacob, and Logan Crossley, Matthew (Brittney) Heiter, Nathan and Patrick Heiter, Rebekkah Wamser, Stephanie (Derek) Gaster, Stephen (Amber) Rick, Steven and Megan Meinke, Andrew and Jason Jones, Anthony, Mitchell, and Erica Meinke, and Allison and Nicholas Warming; great-grandchildren: Brandon and Carter Gaster and many other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services were held on Monday, February 18, at 11 a.m., at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove with Pastor Travis Schmidt officiating. Burial was held in LuVerne Township Cemetery in LuVerne, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be left to the discretion of the family. Foust Funeral Home of Eagle Grove was in charge of arrangements.