Neva Heckman

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. Let us remember with thanksgiving what God has done through His servant, Neva Heckman.

Neva Lucile Heckman was given life by her creator and was born on May 29, 1917, the child of Homer Alva and Eva Florence (Benton) Maxwell in Judith Gap, Montana. On July 10, 1936, she received the gift of Holy Baptism and became a child of God. On the same date she publicly confessed her faith and was confirmed. She received the precious gift of the Lord's life-giving body and blood.

On April 18, 1935, she received the gift of a beloved companion in her spouse, Edward Walter Heckman. She was blessed with the gift of children, John Edward (Carol) Heckman of Shell Rock, IA, Janet Neva Askew of Adair, IA, Norma Lucile Thornburg of Onekama, MI, Marie June (Russell) Miller of Mitchellville, IA, Vera Irene (Lewis "Skip") Krueger of Thornton, CO, and Betty Jo (Charles) Thomas of Boone, IA. Neva was also blessed with the gift of her brothers, Delmar Keith Maxwell of Florala, AL, and Cal Maxwell of Wenatchee, WA, and a sister, Edythe Davis of Yreka, CA; half brothers, Roy Maxwell of Dacula, GA and Monte Maxwell of Round Lake Park, IL, along with 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. God blessed Neva's life with many special people as she served God with her vocations at home, church, work, and in the community. Finally, on Thursday, August 18, 2009, God blessed Neva with a holy death and took her home to rest in the arms of Jesus to await the resurrection of the dead.

Those going to Jesus before Neva were her parents; her son, Dale Walter and his wife, Cathie Heckman; her son-in-law, Elmer "Mike" Askew; her brothers, Wilbur Merle Maxwell and Forrest Maxwell; a sister in infancy, Grace Maxwell; and a grandson, Staff Sgt. Bradley Beem.

Neva was 12 years old when the family moved to rural Audubon County east of Exira near Bear Grove. While her children were school age she helped as a band mother, a chaperone for the senior class trips and worked on the school consolidation project. She was also a 4-H Leader and belonged to the neighborhood Friendly Club.

During her marriage to Edward, she learned much about living on the farm and being a housewife. She helped Ed on the farm with gardening, roofing, feeding livestock, baling hay, repairing the tractor and pickup while raising 7 children. She loved to quilt and sew. She started sewing at age 4 when she helped her mother. She was a wonderful seamstress making formals, wedding gowns, underwear and coats. When the girls were little Neva would pick out the best looking print on chicken feed bags and use the material to sew dresses for them. She was a wise and practical woman whose favorite saying was, "Make do, redo or do without". She stayed very active throughout her life doing her last cartwheel at age 70 and last dance, the Charleston at age 80.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our sister, Neva.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 21, 2009, at St. Johns Lutheran Church northwest of Adair.

Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery east of Exira, prior to the memorial service.

Visitation with family will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 20, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Adair.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the St. John's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

Hockenberry Family Care in Adair, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.