Delores J. Heitke

Delores J. Heitke, 97, of Paynesville, died Saturday, February 14 at Paynesville Healthcare Center. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, February 21 at Grace United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Friday, February 20 at Johnson Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery near Paynesville. Arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Home in Paynesville.

Delores Jean Heitke was born on March 31, 1928, to Albert and Anna (Gehrke) Heitke on the family farm near Paynesville. She grew up on the family farm and attended a small country school through the eighth grade. Delores attended Paynesville High School, graduating with the Class of 1946. She lived on the family farm until 1952 and then she moved to Paynesville, where she stayed the rest of her life.

Delores worked at Jerry’s Jack and Jill as a produce manager for over 40 years. She was also a cook at Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds and The Hotel for many years. Delores had a fiancé, Lowell Sell that passed away before they had a chance to be married.

Delores enjoyed gardening, pets, and especially her chickens. Her father was able to move the chicken coop to town from her home farm, which she took pride in.

Delores was baptized at Salem EUB Church and attended there until 1968, when it closed. From there, she joined Grace United Methodist Church where she was involved with bible study, ladies circle, and taught Sunday School. Delores and her sister, Doris, both went to The Lowell Lundstrom Crusade in 1978 and accepted the Lord.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews; and cousins, Jeanette Bast, and Gerry Heitke, and Ruby Heitke.

She was preceded in death by her parents; fiancé, Lowell Sell; and siblings, Clinton Heitke, Irene Schindel, Ethel Heitke, and Doris Monson.

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