Joseph Heim, of Redfield, SD went to his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 8, 2016. He was 86 years, 2 months and 8 days old. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church in Colman, SD. Reverend Doug Binsfeld will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery in Colman. On-line condolences may be left at the Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home website.
Joe was born on May 1, 1930 in Faulkton, SD to Anton and Margaret (Lenhoff) Heim. When Joe was born he joined a family of five sisters and three brothers. When his mother passed away the day he was born, he was taken by relatives to live in Dell Rapids where he attended school through the 6th grade. At that time he left Dell Rapids and moved to the farm with more relatives where he grew up. Colman then became his home town. Joe served his country proudly for two years. During his time in the Army, he was proud to be a Military Policeman and was stationed on Eniwetok Atoll Island in the South Pacific, standing guard while the first hydrogen bomb was built.
Joe returned home to the farm and married Lois Groos. To this union, George, Bob, and Alice completed their family.
In 1975 a tragic car accident took his wife and the woman he called “Mom”, Agnes Johnson. Joe continued on the farm raising his family and taking care of the farm. He met Geri Benning on a bus trip to the East coast. They became fast friends and were married in 1998. In 2009, they moved into the Eastern Star apartments. In 2010, he was diagnosed with dementia so their traveling times, which they both enjoyed, came to a stop.
Joe was preceded in death by his siblings, Lawrence, Vernon, Naish, Donna, Margaret, Betty, Sally and Rita; his parents Anton and Margaret Heim; his foster parents Arleigh and Agnes Johnson; his first wife Lois and a granddaughter, Chelse.
He is survived by his wife, Geri Heim; son George (Marybeth) and their children, Adam and Jacob Heim; son Bob (Kim) and their children, Tanner and Logan Heim; daughter Alice (Mark) Berg and their children, Douglas, Greg, Paul, Jess, Lane, Monty Berg and Samantha (Ryan) Brace and great grandson Calvin; step daughter Cyndi (Jerry) Bachman; step grandchildren Amy (Jayme) Akin, Brian McFadden and eight step great grandchildren.