Eleanor C. Heideman, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, passed away peacefully on her husband’s birthday, Tuesday, January 24, 2023, surrounded by her family.

She was born in Axtell, KS on September 13, 1933, the daughter of Aloysius (Allie) and Lorene Tanking Gress.

She lived in the St. Bridget community north of Axtell until 1937 when her parents moved to a farm northeast of Seneca. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul grade and high school graduating in May 1951. After graduation she worked at the J. C. Penney Store in Seneca until 1952.  She later worked at Henry Insurance and Accounting Agency from 1972 until 1991.

On October 25, 1952, she married Robert Heideman at Sts. Peter and Paul Church.  They made their home in Sabetha until the spring of 1956 when they moved to a country home east of Seneca where they raised their seven children. In November 1983 they moved to Seneca where they built a new home and she resided there until her recent illness.  They celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in October 2002 and their 65^th Wedding Anniversary in October 2017.

She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and served as an officer of St. Ann’s Altar Society. She was a member of the quilting group at the church and helped with funeral dinners. She enjoyed flowers, sewing, quilting, playing cards and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her husband on May 21, 2022, after 69 years of marriage. Her parents, Allie and Lorene, brothers, Emmett, Leonard, Charles, and Norbert, and sister, Dorothy Dick also preceded her in death.

Survivors include her three sons – Steve (Nancy), Ames, Iowa, Wayne (Shelly), Pleasant Plains, Illinois and Roger (Terri), Lincoln, Nebraska, her four daughters – Evelyn (Ardan) Rottinghaus, Seneca, Kansas, Joyce (Roger) Snowden, Omaha, Nebraska, Barbara (Larry) Huey, Topeka, Kansas and Jane Heideman, Overland Park, Kansas.  She is also survived by her sister Arlene Haverkamp, Seneca, Kansas, 20 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 PM Thursday, January 26, 2023, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Friday, January 27, 2023, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca.

Memorials may be given to Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS or Benedictine Sisters or Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.