Velva Zirkelbach-Heidemann

VELVA (HOFFMAN) ZIRKELBACH-HEIDEMANN

Lisbon

Velva (Hoffman) Zirkelbach-Heidemann, 80, formerly of Lisbon, died Monday, April 4, 2016, at Pinicon Place, Anamosa. Family and friends will gather from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with a memorial service beginning at 6:30 p.m., on Friday, April 8, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon.

Velva was born Aug. 30, 1935, in Hale, Iowa. She was the daughter of George and Etta (McGuire) Hoffman. She attended Hale County School until the seventh grade when she went to Olin schools for seventh and eighth grade. Velva moved to Anamosa where she lived with Mr. and Mrs. Guy Wolf. Velva worked in restaurants in Anamosa and Maquoketa. She also worked at Clinton Engine factory in Maquoketa. In 1951, she married George Zirkelbach. They later divorced.

In 1960, Velva became the housekeeper/baby sitter for Harold Heidemann and his two boys. She moved to Lisbon with Harold in 1966 when Harold bought his farm. Velva and Harold were married in New York in 1971. She also started her job at Cornell College in April of that year.

Velva had some health issues that caused her to retire from Cornell in March 1996, but by 1999 she was back to work, this time at Hardee's where she made biscuits for eight years. After Harold passed away in June 2008, Velva moved from the farm to Myers Meadow Senior Apartments. Velva moved to Pinicon Place in 2014 and lived there until her death.

Velva is survived by two stepsons, David (Connie) Heidemann and Paul (Nancy) Heidemann; two stepgrandchildren, Kelsey (Tony) Rickard and Chris (Courtney) Heidemann; and eight nieces and nephews, Sandy, Dick, Dave, Roselee and Charles Hoffman, Derrick (Andrea) Peterson, Devon (Quenton) Bitner and Donna Wood. She is also survived by one great-granddaughter, Hayley; two great-grandsons, Bentley and Jackson; three great-nieces and nephews; and two close friends, Dan (Mindy) Kohl and Gerry Decious.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Harold; her parents; grandparents; three sisters, Twilla, Belle and Kathryn; two brothers, Allan and Bryon; and niece, Sue.

Her stepsons and stepgrandchildren were her pride and joy. Her greatest joys were her great-grandchildren who Velva had so much love for.

The family would like to thank the staff at Pinicon Place and the staff at Above and Beyond for the great and loving care they gave Velva.

Please share your support and memories with Velva's family on her tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.