Elmer Heeren

Elmer Edward Heeren, age 98, passed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on January 17,
2026. He was a resident of the Central Nebraska Veteran’s Home in Kearney. Family from
Nebraska, Michigan, Arkansas, Iowa and Arizona were present for a final good-bye.

Elmer grew up on a quarter-section farm a couple of miles south of Glenville, the middle child
of Edward and Grace (Stromer) Heeren. He went to a country school, then to school in
Glenville before boarding in Hastings for High School. He graduated at 17 in 1945. Four months
later, when he turned 18, he joined the U. S. Army to serve in World War II.

His Army time was primarily spent with the U. S. Constabulary Service in Fritzlaar, Germany as a
Company Clerk. Duties there included maintaining rosters, preparing orders and schedules and
serving as driver for the Company Commander. He came to love “his” Jeep! And, he got a
quick weekend trip with some Army buddies to see “liberated” Paris. When Notre Dame
Cathedral burned, he recalled having seen its grandeur during his visit.

On his discharge from Service, he returned to Hastings and to the loving arms of Irmise Evelyn
Halsey, whom he had married on March 12, 1947. In 1953, their growing family moved into a
cozy little house at 1323 Saunders in Hastings. It was a home with a big garden and more kids;
eventually totaling eight. A home of joy… and tragedy. Little Gary Dean lived only three
months. Elmer enjoyed 71 years in this home.

After attending school in Omaha, Elmer found work as a telegrapher with the Burlington
Northern Railroad. He became the midnight shift operator of the Burlington “control tower” in
Hastings. He telegraphed to trains and stations up and down the line with information and
instructions, and he manually (with considerable muscle) operated the huge levers in the tower
as necessary to change rail alignments throughout the yard and along the line. Frozen tracks in
the winter months were especially challenging. As the family grew, he started a water-softener
business in Hastings, gaining customers in the city and neighboring counties. His schedule for
many years put him in the Burlington control tower from midnight to eight a.m. and selling and
servicing water softeners around the area through the day. His sleep consisted of two short
naps each day, with family dinner always fitted in. Following his retirement from the Railroad,
Elmer owned and operated the Adams County Feed and Grain on South Lincoln Ave. in Hastings.

For vacations, he would load the family into a big station wagon and head to Colorado and his
beloved Rocky Mountains. Many years later, after they became “empty nesters” he and Irmise
loved to visit and vacation in Estes Park. His beloved Irmise preceded him in death, passing in
2018, and he moved to the VA home from the house on Saunders in 2020.

Elmer saw a lot of life in 98 years, from farm labor behind a pair of draft horses to acquiring a
private pilot’s license as a teenager. He knew Army life and hard labor. He saw astronauts walk
on the moon in 1969, not half-way through his long life. He saw the computer generation,
smart phones and Artificial Intelligence. None of this changed him. He lived by fundamental
values, without enemies – every stranger was a friend. He told the truth, followed the law and
paid every debt – always.

Most of all, he lived with the love of Christ in his heart and soul. For decades and decades, he
was active in and served in various capacities at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings. After his
move to the VA Home, he associated with eFree Church in Kearney. As early as his teenage
years at Hanover Church, he was a serious student of the Holy Bible. His joy was in Jesus and in
his family… to hold a new grand-baby or great grand-baby, to see first steps, to watch them run
and play and, to just have them sit with Grandpa and talk about “things.”

Elmer is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Grace (Stromer) Heeren, sister Edna, brother
Darryl, wife Irmise Halsey Heeren, son, Gary Dean, one daughter-in-law, one grandson and one
great-grandson. Surviving children are Connie (Bruce) Jorgensen of Gold Canyon, AZ; Cathy (Bill)
Berry of Bella Vista, AR; Craig (Julie) Heeren of Williston, TN; Carol (Kip) Hepfinger of Silver City,
IA; Christine (Mark) Bailey of Clay Center, NE; Edward Heeren of Central City, NE; and Jeff
(Carrie) Heeren of Hastings. He also leaves 17 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren (plus
one on the way!).

Among the many sentiments expressed following his passing, one particularly poignant and
accurate phrase stood out. A dear friend said, “Now, he is where he wants to be.” Truly, he is
with his beloved, and in the embrace of his Lord.

In what proved to be a last conversation with a daughter, Elmer said he was looking forward to
spring. So, a celebration of his special life will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.,
at the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, with lunch to follow. Burial will be private.

Family would like to express their deepest gratitude to ALL VA staff as well as Jeannie and
Donna from Tabitha Hospice for their loving care of Elmer AND his family members.

He will be deeply missed, forever loved and always remembered. As he would say after every
visit or phone call, “God bless you ‘til we meet again.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Elmer’s name to Kearney eFree Church, 4010 7th
Ave., Kearney, Nebraska, 68845 or the Salvation Army, 400 S. Burlington Ave., Hastings,
Nebraska, 68901.