Grace Heemstra

April 27, 1919 - March 23, 2011

Grace E. Heemstra, 91, a resident of Berne, Indiana passed away at 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at the Swiss Village Retirement Community in Berne.

Grace was born on April 27, 1919, in Reading, Michigan the daughter of Ira C. and Nina (Burgess) Hinkle both deceased. She married Simon Heemstra October 19, 1958 in Ft. Wayne. He preceded her in death in 1989.

Grace was a member of the Cross United Church of Christ in Berne. After graduating from Reading High School with honors, she enrolled and graduated from International Business College in Ft. Wayne, again graduating with honors. Grace’s career included Administrative Assistant to D.W. McMillian at Central Soya Company for 20 years, Director of Christian Education Calvary Pres. Church for five years, Assistant to Dean of Men at Butler University, and Interim Auditor of Lazarus Stores in Indianapolis. Later, she served with her husband Simon Heemstra who was the Executive Director of Indiana Association of Homes and Services for the Aging until his retirement in 1981. The couple moved to Swiss Village where she was active in the Village Weekly Bible Study. During her retirement she completed her book “Living with Grace”.

Grace is survived by a step-son, Ted (Pat) Heemstra of Fort Wayne, Indiana; a step-daughter Nancy Yeager of Cincinnati, Ohio; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Grace was preceded in death by her first husband, Edwin Dornte in1953, a brother, Rev. Marlin Hinkle, and grandson, Kenneth C. Heemstra.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 25, 2011 in the Swiss Village Chapel with the Chaplain Joe Gerken officiating. Graveside services will follow at about 2:00 p.m. at the Maplewood Cemetery in Reading Michigan.

Family and friends will be received from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 25, 2011 at the Swiss Village Chapel.

Preferred memorials are to Swiss Village.