Marie Teckla Heitzman

Marie Teckla Heitzman, age 92 of Holdingford passed from this world to the next with her family by her side Saturday morning at Mother of Mercy Campus of Care in Albany. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating her life and her faith was held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at the Church of All Saints – St. Mary in Holdingford. Fr. Gregory Mastery officiated and burial took place in the parish cemetery.
Marie was born on November 21, 1922 to Frank and Christine (Arnzen) Stangler in Freeport. She grew up with nine siblings and was a lifetime resident of the area. Marie attended the local school and, at the age of 19, she married Ferdinand “Fred” Heitzman in June of 1942 in St. Rosa. She gladly took on the role of homemaker and mother, bringing eight children into the world. In 1988, Fred and Marie moved from the farm into the city after their children were grown and she spent a few years cleaning at “The Landing.” Marie had a great, witty personality with smart-remarks at the ready. She gardened, canned, sewed, and was a talented quilter. Marie especially enjoyed playing cards, going to the casino, and playing pull-tabs. She liked dancing and a good sloe gin with diet pepsi. Marie was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Holdingford, St. Mary’s Christian Mothers, and Senior Citizen groups in Avon and Holdingford.
Marie is survived by her children Arlene (Ronald) Paggen, Holdingford; Ronald Heitzman, Avon; Dennis Heitzman, Bloomington; Duane (Anna) Heitzman, Albany; Jerry (Mary) Heitzman, Avon; Darrell (Jane) Heitzman, Albany; LouAnn (Rodney) Pilarski, Avon; Sheila (Virgil) Czech, Holdingford; her siblings Irene Wolbeck, St. Cloud; Ralph Stangler, St. Cloud; Tom Stangler; Freeport; 27 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; as well as many other family and friends.
She is greeted in Heaven by her parents Frank and Christine, her husband Fred, with whom she spent 63 years, brothers Norbert Stangler and Don Stangler and 9-month-old Clarence, sisters Marge Paulsen, Regina Bergmann, and 5-year-old Alice, grandsons Ross Heitzman and David Heitzman, granddaughter Denise Paggen, and great-grandson Bentley Nguyen.