Obituart: Herman R. Heim

MADISON - Herman R. Heim, age 94, a lifelong Madison resident, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at St. Marys Medical Center. He was born on Dec. 9, 1909, in Madison, the son of the late Laura (Sturm) and Herman A. Heim. Herman was born into the family homestead at 515 State St. and lived 36 of his first 41 years on State Street. He was a graduate of Holy Redeemer Grade School, Central High School and attended the University of Wisconsin. From 1927 to 1964 Herman was a furrier and accountant with Hershleder Furs. During World War II, Herman worked for Rayovac making batteries for the war effort. He served as an accountant with Sprague-Dawley. On July 25, 1932, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, he was united in marriage to Clara (Huerth) Heim. Herman and Clara had two daughters, Joan (Thomas) Echtner of Glendale, and Barbara (Thomas) Severn of Topeka, Kan. Clara passed away after 51 years of marriage. After Clara's death, he and Elizabeth "Betty" Togstad-Jimieson-Sherburne Heim met one another and united in marriage at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in 1983 and spent the last 20 years as husband, wife and companions. Herman was an avid sports fan whose family housed many UW athletes in their State Street home. He was a 60-year UW football season ticket holder and relished telling stories about decades of UW athletes and games. He seldom missed watching or listening to the Badgers and the Packers, and had many memories of 80-plus years of major league baseball. He enjoyed sharing his interest in sports with his children, grandchildren and their spouses. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church where he regularly attended daily Mass. In addition to his wife, Betty, and his daughters and son-in laws, Joan, Thomas, Barbara and Thomas, he is survived by his step-children, Sherry (John) Jimieson, James Jimieson, Ann (Tim) Sweeney and Mary (Michael) Bosold; his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Christine (Jeff) Georgson, Mark Echtner, Teresa (Bill) Blatz, Bill (Paula) Severn, David (Denise) Severn, Christopher (Amy) Jimieson, Stacy (Ryan) Weime, Sarah Jimieson, Colleen (Paul) Hathaway, Patrick and Katie Sweeney, Bridget (Chad) Koening, Molly (Jon) Pfister and Brian Bosold; his great-grandchildren and great-step-grandchildren, Samantha Georgson, Adam and David Blatz, Hunter, Haley, Hannah, Clara and Andrew Severn, Betsy and Kelly Hathaway, and Isabella and Ashleigh Koening; and his cousin, Irene Newman, age 108. Herman was predeceased by his wife, Clara; his siblings, Monsignor Joseph Heim, Henry Heim, Phillip Heim, Laura Colahan and Francis (Dolly) Prokop; and a step-stepson, John Jimieson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 405 S. Owen Drive. A visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the service at the church. Monsignor Kenneth Fiedler will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Our Lady Queen of Peace endowment. Herman was blessed with a sharp intellect for all of his life. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. By his quiet example, Herman taught the virtues of kindness, patience and humility, and the true meaning of what it meant to be a gentle man. Hermie, we love you and will miss you, ol' boy. Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home 5701 Odana Road (608) 274-1000

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on January 6, 2004