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Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying

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Birth	:	22 May 1916 Saint Lucas, Fayette County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	25 Sep 2016 West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Mount Calvary Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.9300003, -91.7850037
Description	:	Josephine Marie (Langreck) Heying was born May 22, 1916, in St. Lucas, Iowa, to John and Katherine (Schmitt) Langreck. Josephine (Jo) attended St. Luke’s Catholic School in St. Lucas, and after high school she completed a semester at St. Therese’s College in Winona, Minn. On Jan. 6, 1937, Jo married Hilarius “Larry” Heying. Their union would be blessed with four children, Terrance, Sondra, Charles, and Therese. Jo and Larry started farming in Festina, later moving to Fayette, where they operated an implement business. In 1941, they purchased their first farm in West Union. In addition to farming, they began a contract business... Read More	Josephine Marie (Langreck) Heying was born May 22, 1916, in St. Lucas, Iowa, to John and Katherine (Schmitt) Langreck. Josephine (Jo) attended St. Luke’s Catholic School in St. Lucas, and after high school she completed a semester at St. Therese’s College in Winona, Minn. On Jan. 6, 1937, Jo married Hilarius “Larry” Heying. Their union would be blessed with four children, Terrance, Sondra, Charles, and Therese. Jo and Larry started farming in Festina, later moving to Fayette, where they operated an implement business. In 1941, they purchased their first farm in West Union. In addition to farming, they began a contract business sexing chicks, a process of sorting newly hatched birds by gender. When Larry became district supervisor for Hy-Line Chicks, Jo assumed sole responsibility for the route of 18 hatcheries in northeast Iowa. She sexed chickens for over 30 years and was proud of her fastest time, sexing 1300 chicks in a single hour. In 1952 the family built a new house in West Union. Planned and designed by Jo, it was the first modern ranch-style house in West Union. Many elements were adapted from the Prairie Style design of Frank Lloyd Wright. Having learned carpentry from her father, Jo also helped build the house. In 1960, Jo and Larry formed Heying Chick Company and built a hatchery in West Union, where it continues in operation as Heying Firms, Inc. Over the years, they expanded their farm holdings and, in partnership with their son Terrance and later daughter Therese, grew their business operations to include shell egg grading, specialty egg products, started pullets and laying houses. In 1964, Larry was elected state senator. Jo was a partner in his political life, serving as clerk, legislative aide and speechwriter. In 1968, Jo ran for the Iowa House of Representatives, the first woman ever to run from her district. While she was unsuccessful, she did not lose her interest in public service. Over the next few years, Jo worked closely with the Fayette County Tourism Council and was instrumental in organizing the Fayette County Farm Tours, which offered over 80 families from the Chicago area the opportunity to live on a farm and visit farm operations throughout the county. During Larry’s first Senate term, he and Jo secured funding for the State to purchase land for the Volga Lake project. When Larry returned to the Senate in 1972, Jo worked tirelessly to ensure that the project was completed and the lake built. The Volga River State Recreation Area is now a vital northeast Iowa attraction. Well-known for her conservative fiscal nature, Jo was appointed by Governor Terry Branstad to his Task Force on Efficiencies and Cost Effectiveness in State Government in 1983. Jo and Larry were also very active as charter members of Iowans for Tax Relief. Jo was a member of the West Union Rotary Club for many years. In 1984, she traveled to Japan with a Rotary tour and was the first woman Rotarian to attend and speak at a Rotary Club in Tokyo, Japan. In 1991, the Iowa Poultry Association honored Jo and Larry with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1994 they were named the grand marshals of the Dairy Ag Days parade; Jo was again grand marshal in 2002. Jo was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church, Holy Name Rosary Society and for 72 years, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), holding various offices in both organizations. She also taught CCD religious education classes for 10 years. Jo loved traveling, politics, business and the arts. In her early years on the farm she painted portraits of her family. Later her art enhanced their company’s business newsletters and promotions. She also enjoyed writing and authored several books about their time in the Iowa Senate. Jo’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. In 2016, she thoroughly enjoyed her 100th birthday when the entire family was home and she was able to visit with each one individually. Those left to cherish her memory are children Terrance (Sherrie) Heying of Mesa, Ariz., Sondra (Robert) Whaley of Lemont, Ill., Charles (Lois) Heying of Portland, Ore., Therese Slack (special friend James Taylor) of West Union, Iowa. Additional survivors include grandchildren Angela (Daniel) Guthrie, Justin (Allison) Heying, Karen (Peter) Krumins, Brenda (Anthony) Favarula, Sarah (Brandon) Campbell, Corrina (Nathan) Halstead, Kristin Heying, Benjamin (Danielle Zacherl) Heying, Robert Slack III; great-grandchildren Connor Guthrie, Shelby, Kayla, Owen and Noah Heying, Madeleine and Liliane Krumins, August, Ophelia and Levi Favarula, Beckett, Rowan and Thatcher Campbell, Emma and Hans Halstead, Sophia Heying-Sullivan and Amelie Heying. Surviving siblings include sisters Therese Zipsie, Colette Ameling, Delores Buchheit, Joyce Zoulek and brother Roger Langreck. Jo’s parents, husband, brothers Leo, Raymond, and Victor Langreck, and sisters Lena Pitzenberger and Lucy McNamara preceded her in death. Memorials may be directed to the West Union Recreation Foundation, P.O. Box 363, West Union, IA 52175 or to Holy Name Catholic Church, 128 N. Walnut St., West Union, IA 52175. Visitation will be Friday, September 30, 2016 from 4-7 pm at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa with a 4:00 pm Rosary and a 7:00 pm Scripture Service. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Holy Name Catholic Church, West Union, Iowa with Rev. James Brokman as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Union, Iowa. Obituary & photo published by Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying's memorial?
Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying's memorial is located at: Mount Calvary Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, USA.
When did Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying death?
Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying death on 25 Sep 2016 in West Union, Fayette County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Josephine Marie “Jo” Langreck Heying's memorial?
Latitude: 42.9300003
Longitude: -91.7850037

Family Members:

Parent

John Herman Langreck

(1891 - 1983)

Catherine Anna Schmitt Langreck

(1893 - 1966)

Spouse

Hilarius Louis Heying

(1914 - 2001)

Siblings

Lena Langreck Pitzenberger

(1914 - 1996)

Lucy C. Langreck McNamara

(1926 - 2006)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Calvary Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9300003, -91.7850037

2. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9347000, -91.7450027

3. West Union Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9611000, -91.8151600

4. Prairie View Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8993580, -91.8330000

5. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9777985, -91.7647018

6. Butler Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9738910, -91.7501880

7. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8768997, -91.8094025

8. Brainard Cemetery
Brainard, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9341980, -91.7044900

9. South Windsor Cemetery
Donnan, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9211006, -91.8747025

10. Dunham Grove Cemetery
Randalia, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8767014, -91.8458023

11. Lima Cemetery
Lima, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8689000, -91.7373000

12. Boale Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9935700, -91.8451900

13. Saint Francis Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8511009, -91.8261032

14. Grandview Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8301697, -91.8020172

15. George Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0346985, -91.7818985

16. Oak Ridge Cemetery
Auburn Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0155983, -91.8683014

17. Windsor Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9644012, -91.9225006

18. Elgin City Cemetery
Elgin, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9580000, -91.6410000

19. Nutting Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0306015, -91.7247009

20. Hawkeye Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9397011, -91.9357986

21. Illyria Cemetery
Wadena, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8975983, -91.6363983

22. Gods Acres Cemetery
Clermont, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9925003, -91.6496964

23. Saint Peters Catholic Cemetery
Clermont, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0003014, -91.6438980

24. Center Grove Cemetery
Randalia, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8185997, -91.8756027