Lizabeth (Pett) Heizer was born May 30, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Doc and Connie (Hubbard) Pett. Doc was a Dentist and Connie was a homemaker. The family lived in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, a wonderful small town. Liz attended Maine Township High School, where she was President of the Future Teachers Club, graduating in 1949. Liz attended Laurence College in Appleton, Wisconsin for two years, then transferred to the University of Colorado (Boulder) where she completed her undergraduate degree in 1953.
Fortunately for us, Liz stayed on at CU to obtain her master’s degree in Education, because it was toward the end of her master’s program, in December of 1954, that Liz met Bob Heizer. Bob was a veteran of World War II who had attended classes in Boulder and was apparently back there visiting friends over the holidays when he and Liz met. After a two-week courtship (yes, two weeks), Liz and Bob were married on January 8, 1955 in Boulder. Liz proudly wrote her parents that her entire wedding cost $105. She completed her studies and received her master’s degree in February of 1955.
Liz and Bob made their home in Casper, Wyoming, where Bob built his business, Heizer Realty. Liz was a teacher and homemaker, and active in community activities including Service League, PEO Sisterhood, First Presbyterian Church, PTA, and Republican women’s groups.
Liz’s proudest achievements are her daughters, Holly and Gretchen, the most precious daughters imaginable, wonderful sons-in law Mike O’Neal and Bill Harvey, and her pride and joy, three delightful grandchildren, Kaitlin Harvey, Liz’s twin, who is studying for her Master’s Degree in clinical psychology at UNO; Bob Harvey, a CPA at Deloitte in Omaha and Fiancée of Molly Matt, to be married in May 2021; and Brian O’Neal, a licensed pilot completing his senior year at his grandmother’s alma mater, the University of Colorado Boulder, and graduating in May 2021 (next May is a big month for our family!).
In 1986 Liz and Bob moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. Liz served as a substitute teacher for Las Vegas Public Schools and during this time completed her PhD in education. Liz did not like to type, so she would hand write her papers and her dissertation and mail them to Gretchen in Omaha who typed them up for her.
While in Las Vegas, Liz continued to be involved in community activities including First Presbyterian Church, PEO, GOP activities, Assistance League, and Investment Club.
Liz loved to travel. She took many great trips with Bob, including the following destinations:
All over the United States; Jackson Hole, Wyoming (where she and Bob had a condo); Hawaii (3 times); Alaska; Puerto Rico; St. Thomas; Toronto; Banff and Lake Louise; Mazatlán (3 times); Mexico City; Puerto Vallarta; Acapulco; The Bahamas; France (3 times); England (3 times); Russia and Ukraine; Austria; Germany; Japan; Hong Kong; and Amsterdam
And more great trips with Holly:
Switzerland; Copenhagen (with a few hours in Sweden); Budapest; Scotland; Ireland; Spain; Holland; Greece
Liz was justly proud of her family history, which stretched back to the beginnings of colonial America. Liz had 6 ancestors on the Mayflower in 1620, and her family was woven into the history of the nation since that time, including revolutionary patriots and pioneers who crossed sea and land to find political and religious freedom and establish a better life for their families.
In 2012, Liz and Bob moved to Omaha to be near family. Liz moved into Pacific Springs Village and became a part of the community there, engaging in every activity available, and making many good friends. Bob moved to Life Care Center of Omaha where Liz visited him faithfully, twice every week. After Bob died in 2016, Liz continued with all her activities, but she missed Bob terribly.
Liz passed away on August 8, 2020 suddenly and unexpectedly at her apartment at Pacific Springs Village. Liz humbly summed up her life by saying: “I’ve had a good run.” She loved travel and movies and books, and her many friends and activities, but according to Liz, the best part of her life was enjoying fun times spent with her family. Now Liz is reunited with her beloved Bob. May the light of God always shine on them.
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