Winifred Agnes “Winnie” Heinen, 88, of Seneca, Kansas, died early Friday morning, February 15, 2008 at her daughter’s home in Topeka.

She was born on May 25, 1919, on a farm north of Seneca, the daughter of Bernard and Anna Waller Sack. She grew up there and attended Rock Country School north of Seneca, and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1938. As a young woman she did domestic work and helped with newborn babies for many families in the Seneca area. In 1942, she moved to Kansas City, MO, and worked in the office of Dr. Frank Feirabend for seven years before moving back to Nemaha County.

On October 24, 1949, she married Sylvester J. “Buss” Heinen at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. They lived west of Corning where they farmed until 1978, when they moved into Seneca. The couple celebrated 58 years of marriage. Her husband Sylvester survives of the home.

Winnie was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society in Seneca, and she was a former member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning, where she served as President of the Altar Society and was the Religious Coordinator for many years. After she moved into Seneca, she worked as a para-professional in the Seneca Grade School. She enjoyed crocheting, making rosaries, baking, researching the family genealogy, and doing latch hook with her son Steven. Winnie was a devoted wife and mother who was very involved with her family.

Survivors besides her husband Sylvester are two sons, Alan (and wife Bev) of Corning and Steven of the home; two daughters, Joyce (and husband Fred) Schober of Topeka and Linda (and husband Randy) Ten Eyck of Wamego; one brother, Elmer Sack of Seneca; three sisters, Helen Hartman and Margaret Walruff, both of Raytown, Missouri, and Elaine Feldkamp of Baileyville; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, her twin, Wilfred Sack, and John Sack; and two sisters, Irene Devine and Mary Sack, who died at age two.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Tuesday, February 19, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for St. Francis Hospital Cancer Center, or Sts. Peter & Paul Church, or St. Patrick’s Church, and sent in care of the family.