Ione Heinen

Ione L. Heinen, 72, of 543 Ohio Avenue, Oostburg went home to her Lord on Sunday afternoon, April 20, 2008 at her home with her family at her side, after battling several types of cancer the past few years. Ione was born in the Town of Lima on April 8, 1936, the daughter of Irene (TenHaken) Pietenpol and the late Archie W. Pietenpol. She graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1954. On January 11, 1956 she married Ronald E. Heinen at the home of her parents in the Town of Lima. Together, she and her husband operated a dairy farm in the Town of Lima for many years. Ione was an active member of the Gibbsville Reformed Church, where she participated in the Heart to Heart Group, Bethany Circle, Bible Class teacher, church news coordinator, and secretary for the church's 2006 sesquicentennial celebration. She was a noted newspaper correspondent for the Plymouth Review-Sheboygan Falls News and the Sheboygan Press. She also wrote many journals and historical accounts for local schools, cemeteries, and historical societies. Ione spearheaded the Phoenix Project at the Maritime Museum and was chairman of the Phoenix Sesquicentennial Project in 1997, an event that drew over 1700 people, worldwide. She was active with the Lima Homemakers Club, served as a general and project leader for 4-H, Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, Sheboygan County Historical Society, and the Genealogy Society. Ione was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and devoted homemaker. She liked to cook, bake, sew, and embroider. Ione enjoyed her family history and genealogy. She looked forward to supporting her grandchildren in any way she could, including being involved with her grandchildren showing their projects at the Sheboygan County Fair. Ione was a very gracious hostess. She used her love for people and writing abilities in many ways including mentoring young students who had journalism projects of community history and genealogy. She also opened her home to international people needing a place to stay and inner city Chicago youth. Ione is survived by her husband of 52 years, Ronald, of Oostburg; two daughters, Sandy (Jan) Huenink and Karen (Martin) Voskuil, both of Oostburg; one son, James R. (Mary) Heinen of Sheboygan Falls; her mother, Irene Pietenpol of Sheboygan Falls; seven grandchildren, Doug and Carla Huenink, Shannon (Jordan) Van Ess, Brett Voskuil, Ben, Brad, and Greg Heinen; one sister, Carol (Paul) Debbink of Sheboygan Falls; two brothers, Glenn (Mary) Pietenpol of South Haven, Michigan, and Dale (Sarah) Pietenpol of Waukesha; two sisters-in-laws, Alice (Steve) Dann of St. Cloud, and Linda (Mike) Toppins of Plymouth; and one brother-in-law, Dale (Bev) Heinen of Kiel. Ione is also survived by uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and many dear friends. She also served as a special 'grandma' to numerous other children. She was preceded in death by her father, Archie Pietenpol; and her parents-in-law, Edward and Jenieve (Voskuil-TenHaken) Heinen. Funeral services will be held at the Gibbsville Reformed Church on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 10:30 am with the Revs. Gerald Dykstra and Luke Schouten officiating. A family service will precede in the choir room at 10: 15 am. Burial will follow at Hingham Cemetery in the Town of Lima. Visitation will take place at the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg on Wednesday , Apri1 23, 2008 from 2-8 pm, and on Thursday, at church, from 9 am until the time of the family service at 10: 15 am. Online condolences may be sent to wenig@wenigfuneralhome.com A memorial fund is being established in her memory for the Gibbsville Reformed Church, Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, and the St. Nicholas Home Hospice. The Heinen family would like to express their deep appreciation to Drs. Mathews and Bettag, and the staff at Matthews Oncology; Dr. George Schroeder, St. Nicholas ER team and the nurses on the 5th floor; and the devoted staff of St. Nicholas Hospice for the loving care given to lone and her family. The staff of the Wenig Funeral Home in Oostburg (920-564-2771) is serving the Heinen family.