Doris Mary (Emken) Heineke

Preceded in death by husband of 65 years Robert and son Raymond, parents Arthur and Vivian Emken, parents-in-law George and Jennie Heineke, Siblings, Duane Emken, Leila Sylfest, and Leland Emken.

Survived by daughters Rose (Steve) Splittgerber, Robin (Jeff) Lee, Darlene (Dave) Anderson, Denni (Randy) Moss, son George Heineke and brother Harry Emken.   Nineteen grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, three-and-half great-great grandchildren.

In her 92 years, she experienced life.  She worked for Russel Stover’s, Candies working her way up to chocolate dipper, smelling of chocolate all the time.  Mom would bring home seconds to make treats, but more often than not, we kids would eat them.

Mom worked for Prairie Maid Meats and told us that we really didn’t want to know what was in a hotdog.  In 1969, following these jobs, she went into business with her husband, and was fond of saying she bossed him around.

She taught Rose how to make bread and told her about the first loaf that she ever made, which could have been used as a cornerstone to build a house.

She was a brave woman.  One Sunday morning, dad was not at home, she came downstairs to find a rat in the window.  She slammed the window on the rat, went back upstairs, got dad’s shot gun, and shot the rat through the closed window.

Mom took care of misbehaving children, didn’t wait for Grandpa.

After their children moved out of the home, mom and dad traveled all over the U.S. visiting places they wanted to see.   During Christmas break, they took a grandchild or two, or three, before they went to kindergarten; with them to California to visit Uncle Ray, Aunt Becky, and family for a visit with many desert adventures and a trip to Disneyland.

She used her life to make life better for others.  She would open her home to anyone who needed help. She was an 18 Gallon blood bank donor.  As a member of the Trinity Lutheran LWML.  She also delivered Meals on Wheels in rural areas of Lancaster County, meeting folks who received the meals.

Anyone who has been to their house knows that she is an avid owl collector … and chocolate lover.

She loved playing bingo and going to casinos.

She and Dad stayed busy, after they retired, they decided to start a part-time craft business, Heineke Crafts, and went to many farmers markets and craft fairs.  Mom was Dad’s right-hand person, chief artist, and all-around boss.  She also accepted help from Robin and her children to pack and prepare for the craft fairs.  Later Robin took over selling the toys at craft fairs and Mom and Dad packed and prepared for her.

You may have noticed a theme here, she loved people.  She loved to help them and she loved to talk to them.  She was fiercely protective of her family, and for those who weren’t blood-related, well they were family too.

They would watch their grandchildren when they were little and take them out on calls.  When Davis was with them, he would make them listen to a Christmas cassette tape, which Grandpa would complain about.  Grandma defended Davis and they listened to Christmas music all throughout the year.

On one of the trips where they took their grandkids to Disneyland, she was watching a show featuring talking animal heads, Samantha was tired of the show, declared to Grandma that, ‘This show sucks!,’ and threw up in her purse.

Grandma tried to make Robin’s daughters eat schnitzel beans, and was mad when they wouldn’t.

Her house played host to too many cookie-making weekends to count, filled with her children and grandchildren.  Some of the cookies actually got mailed to distant family members to enjoy, and sent home with a daughter or son.  This is where she gifted the her traditional recipes, like peanut brittle, pfeffernusse, and fudge to her children.

When Rose bought her house, she was updating the shelves in their new pantry.  Steve got to the house about the same time as Mom and Dad, he was about to talk to Rose about spending the money, but Grandma interceded and said, ‘That’s my girl.’

Mom and Dad helped Denni remodel their house, tear down buildings and barns and even a church.

She loved her children and even though they had some bad habits, she helped them, like the times she bought George’s cigarettes.

There are a million more stories about her, and she was the hero in all of them.  Now that she’s gone, those she left behind have a raw pain and many happy memories, but we know she is at peace and bossing Dad around in Heaven.

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