Heidi Keir Galer

Heidi Keir Galer

Iowa City

Heidi Keir Galer, 82, beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away on January 3, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa, following a long illness. Born in Vorau, Austria, in 1943, Heidi had a difficult childhood, losing her mother shortly after birth and then spending time in various orphanages and temporary living situations throughout Europe in the challenging post-war years. At age 8, she was adopted by Robert and Lana Peeso Keir of Spencer, Iowa, where she grew up as an Iowa farm girl and was very active in 4-H. From a young age, Heidi was a vibrant and determined spirit, and her life story is one of resilience, connection, and deep purpose.

After graduating from high school, Heidi attended University of Northern Iowa and Schiller College in Germany before moving to Iowa City to finish college at the University of Iowa, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in German Education and a Master’s degree in Counselor Education. During her time at the university, Heidi was honored as Homecoming Queen—a reflection of her warmth, charisma, and leadership. She also reunited with her biological siblings in Austria, which would begin a new chapter in her life reconnecting with her extended family.

While in Iowa City, Heidi also met her husband, Ernie Galer; they were married on August 9, 1969 and together raised four children. She was a fantastic teacher, dedicating her career to teaching high school students German, while winning numerous fellowships and awards and being named the National High School German Teacher of the year by the American Association of Teachers of German. She taught for more than thirty-five years and chaperoned students on trips to Austria and Germany over thirty times before retiring. Heidi made a strong and lasting impact on her students, many of whom still fondly refer to her as “Frau”. She shared her love of Austria (“das schönste Land der Welt”) with both her students and her family through many trips overseas, weaving her heritage into her teaching and personal life.

Beyond the classroom, Heidi was deeply engaged in the arts, literature, travel, and community service. She was a volunteer at heart and somehow managed to be even busier following retirement than she was when she was teaching. Heidi cherished time spent helping others and found joy in being surrounded by loved ones. She also loved corresponding with friends and family and was a voracious reader, letter/email writer, and conversationalist. It was especially difficult for her over the past couple of years when she could no longer engage in these activities, but know that she was constantly thinking of her many friends and family.

Heidi was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Kendall Keir, Wendall Keir, and Karlheinz Posch; and her sisters Helga Mach and Gerti Wachtel. She is survived by her loving husband, Ernie Galer; her brother, Richard (Grace) Keir; her four children: Natasha (Tom) Houselog, Kate Hawkins, Kara (Brent) Kimm, and Nathan (Sarah) Galer; her eight grandchildren: Izabel (Quinn) Foerstner, Morgan Hawkins, Ben Houselog, TJ and Shelby Kimm, and Dominik, Kai, and Ian Galer; and a great-grandson, Rylan Foerstner.

There will be a celebration of Heidi’s life in spring 2026; to receive an invitation please email celebratefraugaler@gmail.com. Heidi would have loved donations to any of her favorite local charities, including Iowa City Hospice, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City Crisis Center, Iowa City Shelter House, Inside Out Reentry Program, and Iowa City Domestic Violence Intervention Program.

Heidi’s family would like to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to the staff at Featherstone Memory Care and Iowa City Hospice. Heidi was well cared for, recognized, and treated with dignity and respect by every member of your teams.

Heidi’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the family she loved, and the community she served. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

Online condolences at www.lensingfuneral.com.