Joann Heins

JoAnn Clara Heins, 65, beloved wife, mother, grandma and sister, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at RiverStone Hospice Home in Billings, Montana. She was born to Victor and Margaret Franzen on a farm, in St. Lucas, Iowa, on December 17, 1947. She was raised on the farm there and joined the Marine Corps the day she graduated from high school, June 7, 1966. That is where she met the love of her life, Michael Heins and they were married on June 29, 1968, at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington DC. To this union they had the joy of having their beautiful girls, Michelle, Rene' and Suzette. While stationed at Headquarters, it was JoAnn's honor to have served as receptionist for the under secretary of Navy at the Pentagon. It was such a joy and honor for her to come from such a small place in Iowa and serve at the Pentagon. She was honorably discharged December 1968 from the Marine Corps. The family moved to Billings in 1970. JoAnn was very involved in the Big Sky Cum Christo after she made her weekend in October 1985. It certainly was a change for her and in 2009 she was the rector for the woman's weekend, which was another joy to her. Her groupies from the weekend that she shared so much with were Dode Donnelly, Donna and Terri Kimmery, Bertie Hanson, Terri Hensley and Terri Riemann who had moved. JoAnn worked at St. Vincent Hospital for a short time and Bureau of Land Management, retiring from there January 3, 2008. When she and her husband Mike bought a townhouse in April 2008, they began attending St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. What a joy and support this parish was to her. JoAnn is survived by her husband, Mike; daughters Michelle (Greg) McManus, Rene Heins, Suzette ‘Suzie' Heins; siblings Bernard (Helen) Franzen, St. Lucas, Iowa; Dorothy (Guenter) Hagemeier, Germantown, WI; Stella Franzen, Denver, CO; Richard (Susan) Franzen; Ignatius (Sherrie) Franzen, Otis, LA; David Franzen, St. Lucas, and Dennis (Karen) Franzen, St. Lucas; grandchildren Taylor McManus, Gabrielle Heins, and Megan McManus. She was preceded in death by parents; aunts, uncles and a sister Mary Ann. JoAnn's interests included reading by the river, an experience of being close to God and nature, and watching sports with her hubby, especially in the later years. She started with being a Griz fan and from there took in all the avenues of sports. She dearly loved doing jigsaw puzzles, camping, John Wayne and watching western movies! Michael and JoAnn were very active in the Marine Corps League for four years. They supported all the troops, but the Marines were the best! Cemetery: Burial of ashes will take place at Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery in Laurel. Service: Vigil services are 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 2 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas the Apostle Church with a luncheon to follow.