VERNON HEINEMAN

Vernon L. Heineman, of Mora, formerly of Grasston, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024, at his home.  He was 89 years old.

Vernon was born on April 28, 1934, to parents Lester and Viva (Ward) Heineman.  He grew up in the West Rock area of Pine City.  He joined the Air Force in 1956, and following his discharge in 1958, he worked in construction.

In 1961, Vernon and Donna Giese were married.  They moved to the Mora area in 1963 and wanted to farm.  They purchased a small farm and worked for Roelke Hardware where he laid all types of floor coverings, fixed lawnmowers, and other home appliances.  The farm grew and he became a full-time farmer, eventually purchasing a much larger Grade A dairy farm known as the Ranch, north of Braham, MN.  During this time, he was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Grasston, Kanabec Farm Bureau, Kanabec Dairy Association, Kanabec Soil and Water conservation district, and Grasston Mill which he was chairman for many years.  When the dairy crisis happened, farming stopped.  He then worked with the Catholic Charities Caritas organization, visiting other farmers who were in crisis.  He worked for a while as a realtor and eventually became a Kanabec County assessor until retirement.

Traveling, camping, and fishing were always in the plans and all states except for a few far eastern states were visited.  The trip to Alaska was one that would never be forgotten because of truck trouble in Tok.  After Donna retired, winters were first spent in Arizona, New Mexico, and eventually seven years in Fredericksburg, Texas.
 
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents Lester and Viva (Ward) Heineman, brother Glenn Heineman, and brother-in-law Tom Giese.
He is survived by his wife Donna; daughters, Renee (Bryan) Coleman and Leslie (Ryan) McCallum-Ruud; 7 grandchildren, Benjamin (Melissa), Alexander (Samantha), Christopher, Emma, Logan (Tiffany), Hannah (Zach), Nicholas (Casey); 4 great grandchildren, Annastasia, Travis "Zoe", Aiden, and Lance; sisters-in-law Corrine Heineman, Annette Majeski, and Diane Giese; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, May 6, 2024 at the Hope Lutheran Church in Grasston.

Memorial Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

Military Honors provided by the Mora American Legion will follow the service.

A Luncheon will follow.

A Private Family Inurnment will be in the Grass Lake Mission Cemetery near Grasston.

Memorials are preferred to the Hope Lutheran Church in Grasston or St. Croix Hospice.

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