- Born on: November 4, 1939
- Departed on: November 24, 2016
- Resided in: Buffalo Center, IA
Louise Bernice Heifner
Louise Bernice Heifner, 77, of rural Buffalo Center, Iowa, joined her Heavenly Father on Thursday, November 24, 2016, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 29 at 10:30 am at the Community Chapel in Lakota, IA. Visitation will be held Monday, 11/28, from 5-8 pm and one hour prior to the service.
Louise was born on November 4, 1939 in Buffalo Center, IA, the daughter of Henry & Schwantje (Loeschen) Boyken. She was the first baby girl born in the new Buffalo Center Hospital. She attended Country School in rural Titonka, IA, through 6th grade and then attended Titonka High School and graduated in 1957. She attended secretarial school in Mankato, MN for 1 year. Upon graduation, she moved to Albert Lea where she worked for Wilson Packing House as a Secretary for 2 years.
Thanks to her 3 brothers, Louise met her future husband, Virgil Heifner, while still a young teenager. Upon Virgil’s return from the Service, they started dating in September of 1959 while she was working in Albert Lea. They were engaged on Valentine’s Day of 1960 and married on August 14 of the same year at Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Titonka. They honeymooned at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.
To this union was born 4 energetic and happy girls. Louise enjoyed raising her family, including sewing clothes for the girls, cooking, baking & gardening. Virgil and Louise farmed and milked cows for many years. In 1979, they started Heifner Gardens and over the years they worked together to grow the business by going to Farmer’s Markets, selling produce off the yard and starting their own plants in their greenhouse. Louise found great enjoyment in caring for the flowers in the greenhouse, picking green beans in the summer and canning the many vegetables throughout the summer.
Louise was well-known for her baking. She enjoyed having friends and family over for baked treats and coffee. During the fall and holiday time each year she baked over 120 dozen cookies and candies in addition to many pies, breads, jams, popcorn balls, caramel corn & chex mix.
Louise had a strong faith and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior early in her marriage. She and Virgil attended the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center, IA for most of her life, and was currently attending Community Chapel in Lakota, IA.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Virgil; 3 daughters - Lorraine (Todd) Brady of Chaska, MN; Susan (Van) Davis of Buffalo Center; Nancy (Michael) Miller of Eden Prairie, MN. 14 Grandchildren – Andrew Brady, Matthew Brady, DiAndria (Joel) Abbas, Isaiah Davis, Stefan Davis, Keith Davis, Deja Davis, Rebecca Davis, Josephine Davis, Victoria Davis, Ellie Miller, Mara Miller, Erin Miller & Allyssa (Michael) Meckler; Brothers – Duane Boyken of Mesa, AZ and Dean Boyken of Woden; as well as many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Louise was preceded in death by her daughter, Valerie Frascht, her parents Henry & Schwantje Boyken, parents-in-law Vincent & Ivy Heifner and brother Roger Boyken.
Louise was born on November 4, 1939 in Buffalo Center, IA, the daughter of Henry & Schwantje (Loeschen) Boyken. She was the first baby girl born in the new Buffalo Center Hospital. She attended Country School in rural Titonka, IA, through 6th grade and then attended Titonka High School and graduated in 1957. She attended secretarial school in Mankato, MN for 1 year. Upon graduation, she moved to Albert Lea where she worked for Wilson Packing House as a Secretary for 2 years.
Thanks to her 3 brothers, Louise met her future husband, Virgil Heifner, while still a young teenager. Upon Virgil’s return from the Service, they started dating in September of 1959 while she was working in Albert Lea. They were engaged on Valentine’s Day of 1960 and married on August 14 of the same year at Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Titonka. They honeymooned at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.
To this union was born 4 energetic and happy girls. Louise enjoyed raising her family, including sewing clothes for the girls, cooking, baking & gardening. Virgil and Louise farmed and milked cows for many years. In 1979, they started Heifner Gardens and over the years they worked together to grow the business by going to Farmer’s Markets, selling produce off the yard and starting their own plants in their greenhouse. Louise found great enjoyment in caring for the flowers in the greenhouse, picking green beans in the summer and canning the many vegetables throughout the summer.
Louise was well-known for her baking. She enjoyed having friends and family over for baked treats and coffee. During the fall and holiday time each year she baked over 120 dozen cookies and candies in addition to many pies, breads, jams, popcorn balls, caramel corn & chex mix.
Louise had a strong faith and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior early in her marriage. She and Virgil attended the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center, IA for most of her life, and was currently attending Community Chapel in Lakota, IA.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Virgil; 3 daughters - Lorraine (Todd) Brady of Chaska, MN; Susan (Van) Davis of Buffalo Center; Nancy (Michael) Miller of Eden Prairie, MN. 14 Grandchildren – Andrew Brady, Matthew Brady, DiAndria (Joel) Abbas, Isaiah Davis, Stefan Davis, Keith Davis, Deja Davis, Rebecca Davis, Josephine Davis, Victoria Davis, Ellie Miller, Mara Miller, Erin Miller & Allyssa (Michael) Meckler; Brothers – Duane Boyken of Mesa, AZ and Dean Boyken of Woden; as well as many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Louise was preceded in death by her daughter, Valerie Frascht, her parents Henry & Schwantje Boyken, parents-in-law Vincent & Ivy Heifner and brother Roger Boyken.
