Elda H. Heidemann

Elda was born on July 24, 1928 in Denver, CO to Adolph and Elda J. Geisert. She was their third child, with older siblings Barbara and Kenneth and younger siblings Luella and Henry Paul. Her mother died when Elda was 3 ½ years old and the siblings were briefly separated, living with various relatives until "more help arrived". Elda lived with Hilda and Wray Drake during that period. Adolph married Maude (Drake) Wallin in 1933, the children were reunited, and stepsister Ardeen joined the family. Adolph and Maude added two more children, Claudia and Ronald, to their blended family.
Elda had many stories about her childhood, including family trips to the mountains, ice skating with Daddy and her siblings, riding a 'bicycle built for two' with Luella, working in their Victory Garden, and several stories about climbing ladders with Kenny. One infamous story involved Elda and Luella sneaking jars of peaches from the pantry and eating them in their bedroom!
Elda attended Denver public schools through 6' grade, then Lutheran school, and graduated from South High School. While still in high school, Elda began working the evening shift at the telephone company as the Nation needed extra workers during World War II. Elda recalled working a double shift on the night that Victory was declared because calls were flooding in, lighting up the switchboard, and celebrations in the street blocked the streetcars so that the overnight shift could not get to work to relieve the workers on Elda's shift.
After graduation, Elda continued working at the phone company and briefly attended the Denver Art Institute. While at home during a union strike at the phone company, Elda's beloved 'Grandpa Drake' joked with her about "coming with me to the farm" which was his homestead south of Kimball, NE. Elda surprised everyone by quickly saying yes and packing her bag!
In her early years in Kimball, Elda worked for a drug store, the phone company, and as a mother's helper for several area families. She met the extended Heidemann family during that time. Later Elda moved to Texas to assist her sister Barbara before moving back to Kimball.
Elda married Harold Heidemann on December 4, 1949. They lived on the family farm and had five children: Marilyn, Susan, Wanda, Annette (deceased shortly after birth in 1958), and Robert. Life on the farm was a bit rustic in those early years. Mail was delivered three times a week, there was no phone or TV, and trips to town were generally limited to Sunday church services followed by a stop at the grocery store and, occasionally, lunch at Grandma Heidemann's home.
While raising her family in Kimball, Elda renewed her love of arts and crafts. She told the story of joining the Kimball Art Guild when a member called to invite Marilyn (a talented art student) to join the Guild! Several of her oil paintings from this period were displayed in local businesses. Recalling her father's talent for woodworking, Elda took adult shop classes while her son Robert was in school. She quickly mastered the use of power tools and went on to build many pieces of furniture.
After Harold and Elda divorced in 1977, Elda moved to town, worked in the school cafeteria, attended cosmetology school in Sidney, NE, and obtained her cosmetology license. She then moved to Hayes, KS, and later settled in Gorham, KS. Elda met Riley Irwin in Gorham and they remained close friends until Riley's death.
While in Kansas, Elda learned the art of wheat weaving and became active in art and wheat weaving guilds. She traveled to many craft shows to sell her weaving. Elda also joined the National Wheat Weavers Association and attended their annual conventions in cities in the Midwest and West, even teaching classes at the conventions.
Elda's health began to decline from COPD and macular degeneration in 2010 and she decided to move closer to one of her children. She chose Fairbury, in part due to its proximity to three of her five great-grandchildren! Elda enjoyed living in Fairbury and spending time with her daughter Marilyn, her granddaughter Amy, and Amy's three daughters. Elda especially enjoyed following all of her great-grandchildren's school and sports activities.
Elda continued living on her own in her apartment in Fairbury until January 2023, when at age 94 her health necessitated moving into Gardenside LT-JCHC in Fairbury, NE. As her eyesight declined, she became an avid consumer of audio books, "reading" several books each week. Her favorites were about history, especially Colorado's mining towns/legends and the Golden Age. Elda passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at Gardenside.
Elda is survived by her brother Ronald Geisert (Fairbanks, AK); four living children: Marilyn (Bob) Bachle of Fairbury, NE, Susan (Jim) Ellison of Montara, CA, Wanda (Ron) Johnsen of Southern Shores, NC, and Robert (Janis) Heidemann of Elgin, IL; five living grandchildren (Tom and Ross Ellison, Amy Sliva, and Bob and Michaela Heidemann); and five great-grandchildren (Taylor, Mariah, and Hayley Sliva and Emilia and Zach Ellison).

A joyous celebration of Elda's life will be held April 27, 2024, in Fairbury, Nebraska. There will be a burial at 9:30 that morning in the Tobias Cemetery, followed by an 11:00 a.m. service at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairbury. A lunch will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall at Grace. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials for Elda may be sent to her daughter, Marilyn Bachle at 1701 H Street, Fairbury, NE 68352