Elsie (Schick) Heilman

Eureka, SD-Graveside Service for Elsie (Schick) Heilman, 98, of Eureka will be 11:00 am Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Eureka. Rev. Lloyd Miller will officiate. The service will be live streamed and available at www.Carlsenfh.com under Elsie’s obituary.

Elsie died Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Avera Eureka Health Care Center.

Elsie was born to John A. and Christina (Beck) Schick on March 5, 1923 at the family farm home in Campbell County, SD. She graduated from Lake School in that county and from Eureka High School with the class of 1941. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD. Elsie taught rural school one year and the sixth grade in Eureka for two years. She was then employed at the Northwest Blade and wrote a weekly column.

In 1948 she married Lester Heilman. They operated Heilman Drug in Eureka for 40 years, retiring in 1989.

She was a lifelong member of Neudorf and Zion American Lutheran Church, taught Sunday school for many years, was chairperson for Zion’s Centennial book and a member of the Heritage Preservation Committee. Elsie was Co-Chairperson for Eureka’s Centennial book. Prior to Eureka’s centennial celebration, she reviewed the earliest papers and Northwest Blade articles from 1887-1987, writing highlights and trivia for a weekly column, a chronology of 100 years, approximately 5000 papers. They were published in a small book.

She belonged to the Eureka Study Club for more than 50 years, and was a member of the Hospital Board, Hospital Auxiliary, Library Board, and the McPherson County Museum Acquisition Committee.

Elsie was an avid reader of history, historical novels, mysteries, and current events, calling herself a “news junkie”. She enjoyed playing bridge, coffee time with friends and collecting antiques.

Surviving her are two sons, James (Nan) Heilman, College Station, TX and his daughters, Jessica Heilman (Kirk Ott), Johanna Heilman (Gabriel Frampton), and Jenna Heilman (Bryn Takle); and Warren (Tammy) Heilman, Haslett, MI and their daughters Lauren and Madison Heilman. Also surviving are her brother, Rev. Edwin A Schick, Dubuque, IA, and great granddaughter Edie Takle.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Lester Heilman; three brothers, Otto Schick, Milbert Schick and an infant brother, Ruben; and two sisters, Alma (Lorenz) Keszler and Martha (Ray) Conlon.

Memorial donations can be made to the Avera Eureka Health Care Center or Zion American Lutheran Church in Eureka.

Carlsen Funeral Home of Eureka have been entrusted with arrangements.

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