Nancy Anne Heinen

It is with great sorrow and love that our family announces the death of Nancy Jobes Heinen (age 88) on December 31, 2023. She was born in Minneapolis on February 7, 1935 to father Peter Jobes and mother Edith Calhoun Jobes. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Polly (Pauline) Trucker and Dibbie (Elizabeth) Schultz, brother Peter Jobes, and former husband Lawrence Heinen. She is survived by daughters Julie (Tom) Steller, Molly (Ralph) Dvorak, Amy Fritz; sons Paul (Heather) Heinen and John (Maria) Heinen; sister, Susan Sandstrom. Nancy had 17 beloved grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. Nancy grew up on 53rd and Ewing in Minneapolis, moving with her family to Browndale Ave as a teenager. She graduated from Southwest High School in 1953, going on to earn her LPN soon after. In 1956 she became a stewardess for Northwest Airlines, working there until her marriage to Lawrence Heinen in 1957. For the next few decades she dedicated herself to raising their five children, first in Minneapolis, then Edina and finally in Eden Prairie, MN. She created a home that welcomed all her children's friends and neighbors with warmth, kindness and acceptance. Nancy's life was forever changed in 1975 when, through her sister Polly's testimony and example, she put her faith In Jesus, trusting in his mercy and faithfulness in this life and for the life to come. Her faith was the rock she stood on through the challenges and heartaches she would face, enabling her to never lose hope in the goodness of God and continue to be the loving, generous woman that was her hallmark. She was baptized in 1980 at New Testament Church and later was a part of Eden Prairie Community Church and Church of the Open Door. During these years she lived first in Eden Prairie, then with daughter Amy's family for 8 years in Savage, MN. In 2003 she moved into the lower level of Julie and Tom's duplex in downtown Minneapolis and at that time joined Bethlehem Baptist Church, where Tom was on the pastoral staff. After her children were raised Nancy went back to work outside her home, first as a part of Dr. Rich Greene's chiropractic practice and then, after getting her Home Health certification in 1991, as a long term private Home Health giver. She continued in this amazing work until 2009 (74 years old!) and was known for her extraordinary compassion and care for each of her patients. She had so many wonderful church and coworkers friends, with her greatest delight being her relationship with her sisters. Those Jobes girls were something else! During the last 20 years Nancy lived out her kindness and good humor by being the constant resident in the duplex while her roommates moved in and out. They included granddaughter, Hannah and her friends, several different wonderful single women, granddaughter Ruthie and great-granddaughter Olive as well as Julie's father-in-law, Merrill, who spent the last 2 1/2 years of his life with her serving as a part of his care team. It was always a bustling, active household and she loved being "Grandma Nancy" to all her young roommates. In the last few years Nancy had several "mini-strokes" which required her to be the recipient of care from her family. She did not like this at all: she wanted to be the one to do the caring! But she bore these changes bravely and could not thank all of us enough for the care we gave. Molly, Amy and Julie were the frontline caregivers with Paul and John always available to be called on for help. For the last year dear Betsy Olson was her roommate, giving us extra eyes and ears and giving Nancy the sweetest, tenderest companion for her last months in our home. In August of 2023 she experienced a more severe stroke, and after many weeks of rehab it was clear she could no longer live independently. At this time she moved to Minnesota Masonic Care Center and lived there until her death. She was so brave as she lost independence and the busy household she had enjoyed so much, and we are eternally grateful for the wonderful care she received at MN Masonic. Nancy will be remember as kind, loving, compassionate, grateful, generous, faith-filled, flexible and resilient. This is her legacy to us all and we miss her dearly. We invite you to a Service of Worship & Celebration at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 720 13th Ave S in Minneapolis on Thursday, January 11 (1 pm Visitation, 2 pm Service with reception to follow.) The service will be live-streamed at https://bethlehem.church/special-event.

Tributes

Nancy Anne Heinen

February 7, 1935 - December 31, 2023

Tributes

Nancy Anne Heinen

February 7, 1935 - December 31, 2023

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