Ethel Olivia Heidesch

In lieu of flowers, please direct any memorials to Remsen St. Mary’s Church, Remsen St. Mary’s School, Remsen Museum or Luxembourg Heritage Society. Thank you.

Ethel Olivia Heidesch, age 91, of Remsen died on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Bavarian Meadows Assisted Living in Remsen, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. Timothy Pick officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be 4-6:30 p.m. on Monday with a Catholic Order of Foresters rosary & vigil prayer service at 5 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Visitation will resume on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. www.fischfh.com

Ethel Olivia Minten was born on March 28, 1934 at Alton, Iowa to Sylvester and Rose (Pottebaum) Minten. Ethel graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1951at Alton, IA.

Ethel married Lyle Heidesch on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1952 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IA. They resided on a farm northeast of Remsen where they raised their family. The couple moved to Remsen in 1988. Lyle passed away on September 3, 2024.

Ethel was employed by the Remsen Public Library for many years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Guild/Christian Mothers, Catholic Order of Foresters, National Society of Foresters, Northwest Iowa Genealogical Society, Luxembourg Heritage Society of NW Iowa, and several other special interest genealogical societies. Ethel served as an officer of Christian Mothers, COF, NW Iowa Genealogical Society and as a member of the Remsen Museum Board. Ethel enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, genealogy, gardening, golf, line dancing and bowling.

Ethel is survived by her seven children and their families: Ken (Ann) Heidesch of Granville, IA, Pete (Sharon) Heidesch of Remsen, IA; Anne Von Arb of Alton, IA; Nancy Hyland of Glenwood, IA; Bob (Vicky) Heidesch of Remsen, IA; Lee (Cheryl) Heidesch of Papillion, NE; Carl Heidesch of Dubuque, IA; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; brothers: Marvin (Doris) Minten, Lloyd Minten, Harold (Martha) Minten; sisters: Edith Staab, Helen (Fred) Shockey, Carol (James) Schemmel, in-laws: Phyllis Ungs, Holly Nolan, Mary Grieve, Rosie (Gary) Grage, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by her parents, her husband, Lyle, granddaughters, Lindsay Heidesch and Rachael Hyland; son-in-law Dennis Von Arb; brothers: Paul (Rita) Minten and Joseph Minten, sisters: Rosemary (Bill) O’Gara, Esther (James) McClure, in-laws: Vernon Staab, Bill (Shirley) Heidesch, James Nolan, John Ungs, Gordon Grieve.

Casket bearers will be her grandchildren.

Honorary bearers will be members of the Catholic Order of Foresters.