Alfred "Al" Joseph Heims
May 23, 1939 — February 17, 2022
Alfred “Al” Joseph Heims, age 82, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2022, with family around him. A Parish Vigil Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 21, 2022, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, where a visitation will follow until 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion, with Reverend David O’Connor officiating. Committal services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairieburg, Iowa.
Al was born on May 23, 1939, in Hopkinton, Iowa, to Aloysius and Winifred (Prull) Heims, the first of 13 children: ten boys and three girls. He graduated from Coggon High School in 1957. On June 11, 1960, Al was united in marriage to Frances “Judy” Louise Rudd in Prairieburg.
Al spent his early years working on the family farm and neighboring farms. From 1958 to1965, he worked for Colonial Bakery. For 20 years of his life, from 1965 to 1985, Al was a welder at FMC Link Belt Speeder. After FMC closed their plant in Cedar Rapids, he found work with several employers including Barnes Tool and Die, Marion Mixer, and others before going to Iowa Manufacturing/Terex, retiring after 12 years. In his retirement, Al drove school bus for the Linn-Mar School district from 2000 to 2007.
Al took great pride in a job well done. Family was the most important thing to him, and he was happiest when cooking for them. Al loved the outdoors and spent many hours hunting and fishing with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Al is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Judy Heims of Marion; three children, Kim Rose of Marion, Greg (Jessica Shelton) Heims of Cedar Rapids, and Kathy (Tom) Van Erdewyk of Carroll, Iowa; six grandchildren, Andrea (Adam) Rose, Brad (Kristin) Rose, Rachel (Bobby) Brooks, Derek (Kayla) Drexler, Brent (Megan) Van Erdewyk and Brenden Heims; three great-grandchildren, Harper, Raelynn and Greyson; 11 siblings, John (Marsha) Heims of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Vivian (Tom) Klostermann of Coggon, Iowa, Mary Ann (Dave) Pasker of Blairstown, Iowa, Robert (Julianna) Heims of Cedar Rapids, Patricia (Bob) Kuhn of Austin, Texas, Paul (Sandy) Heims of Anamosa, Iowa, David (Diane) Heims of Toddville, Iowa, Mike (Linda) Heims of Cedar Rapids, Tom (Jan) Heims of Marion, Lee (Brenda) Heims of Cedar Rapids, and Dan Heims of Shellsburg, Iowa; one sister-in-law, JoAnne Heims of Anamosa; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Heims; one niece, Karen Klostermann; and three nephews, Terry Pasker, Justin Heims, and Gabriel Heims.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Al’s memory may be made to either: Hospice of Mercy, 701 10th Street SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403; or the Alzheimer’s Association, 317 7th Avenue SE, #402 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52401.
Al was born on May 23, 1939, in Hopkinton, Iowa, to Aloysius and Winifred (Prull) Heims, the first of 13 children: ten boys and three girls. He graduated from Coggon High School in 1957. On June 11, 1960, Al was united in marriage to Frances “Judy” Louise Rudd in Prairieburg.
Al spent his early years working on the family farm and neighboring farms. From 1958 to1965, he worked for Colonial Bakery. For 20 years of his life, from 1965 to 1985, Al was a welder at FMC Link Belt Speeder. After FMC closed their plant in Cedar Rapids, he found work with several employers including Barnes Tool and Die, Marion Mixer, and others before going to Iowa Manufacturing/Terex, retiring after 12 years. In his retirement, Al drove school bus for the Linn-Mar School district from 2000 to 2007.
Al took great pride in a job well done. Family was the most important thing to him, and he was happiest when cooking for them. Al loved the outdoors and spent many hours hunting and fishing with family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Al is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Judy Heims of Marion; three children, Kim Rose of Marion, Greg (Jessica Shelton) Heims of Cedar Rapids, and Kathy (Tom) Van Erdewyk of Carroll, Iowa; six grandchildren, Andrea (Adam) Rose, Brad (Kristin) Rose, Rachel (Bobby) Brooks, Derek (Kayla) Drexler, Brent (Megan) Van Erdewyk and Brenden Heims; three great-grandchildren, Harper, Raelynn and Greyson; 11 siblings, John (Marsha) Heims of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Vivian (Tom) Klostermann of Coggon, Iowa, Mary Ann (Dave) Pasker of Blairstown, Iowa, Robert (Julianna) Heims of Cedar Rapids, Patricia (Bob) Kuhn of Austin, Texas, Paul (Sandy) Heims of Anamosa, Iowa, David (Diane) Heims of Toddville, Iowa, Mike (Linda) Heims of Cedar Rapids, Tom (Jan) Heims of Marion, Lee (Brenda) Heims of Cedar Rapids, and Dan Heims of Shellsburg, Iowa; one sister-in-law, JoAnne Heims of Anamosa; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James Heims; one niece, Karen Klostermann; and three nephews, Terry Pasker, Justin Heims, and Gabriel Heims.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Al’s memory may be made to either: Hospice of Mercy, 701 10th Street SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403; or the Alzheimer’s Association, 317 7th Avenue SE, #402 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52401.
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