Jonelle Heinen

Jonelle Heinen, 66, of New London, passed away peacefully Friday, August 28, 2026, at CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar surrounded by her family. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 4, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Spicer.  Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday.  Interment will be in the church cemetery. A livestream of the service can be found here.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes, www.hafh.org.

Jonelle Heinen was born August 4, 1960, to John and Armella (Braegelmann) Spanier in Richmond. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Lake Henry. Jonelle grew up on a farm near Lake Henry. She attended Belgrade Elementary School and later graduated from Belgrade High School in 1978 where she was valedictorian of her class. Following high school, Jonelle attended the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1982 and was a member of Sigma Theta Tau/KAPPA PHI and Delta Epsilon Sigma member.

On May 7, 1983, Jonelle was united in marriage to Roger Heinen at St. Margaret Catholic Church in Lake Henry. They were blessed with three children, Michael, Elizabeth, and Katherine, and made their home in New London.

Jonelle dedicated 43 years of her life to caring for others and mentoring new nurses at Rice Memorial Hospital. Her nursing journey began on the medical floor and while working there, she spent a short time as an LPN clinical instructor at the local college. Driven to expand her career, she earned her Certified Diabetes Educator certification and transitioned to the Diabetes Center. When the Diabetes Center closed, she brought her warmth and skill to Adult Health Care before concluding her distinguished career in the Cancer Center, retiring in January 2025. Nursing was never just a job for Jonelle—it was a calling. Known for her boundless kindness and compassion, she was twice honored with the My Nurse Made a Difference Award and received the prestigious DAISY Award, recognitions of the profound impact she made on countless patients and their families.

Jonelle was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Spicer. She helped with the Fall Bazaar, taught Sunday School, was a member of the CCW, and ushered with her husband, Roger.

Jonelle enjoyed reading, sewing, going on walks, repurposing furniture and especially spending time with her grandchildren. She always made time for her grandchildren, whether it was a family gathering or one-on-one time. She was affectionately known as the "Fun Nana," a title she lived up to. She enjoyed doing crafts, baking, and painting rocks with them, which they would then place them on trails to later come back and find.

Jonelle had a special gift for making people feel welcome and cared for. Her caring nature was evident in her work as a nurse, but it also showed in the way she treated her family, friends, and everyone she met. She will be remembered for her kindness, her compassion, and the love she had for her family and friends.

Jonelle is survived by her husband, Roger, of New London; children, Michael (Mandy) Heinen of Spicer, Elizabeth (Nick) Griffith of Spicer, and Katherine (Blake) Williamson of Spicer; grandchildren, Tyler, Connor, Aiden, Emma, Ellary, Owen, Ava, and Tait. She is further survived by her siblings, Julie Schlangen, Jane (Robert) Bertram, Jim (Cindy) Spanier, Joyce (Wayne) Borash, and Jeri (Steve) Mathison; and many extended family members.

Jonelle was preceded in death by her parents, John and Armella; niece, Rebecca Borash; and brother-in-law, Dale Schlangen.

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