Janet Heil

May 27, 1935 - October 4, 2024

Janet Grace Heil, nee Beier, born May 27, 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma, passed away Friday, October 4, 2024 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She was the daughter of the Rev. Edwin C. Beier & Edna (Kater) Beier.

Janet grew up next to the church where she learned to sing in the choir and attended school in a one-room school house in Monroe County, IL. Later, her family moved to Marissa, Illinois where she graduated from Marissa High School, and then Illinois State University in Normal, IL, where she obtained a BS in Education. Later she obtained her Master’s in Education at SIU Edwardsville. She always wanted to become a school teacher, even as a young girl. She taught in elementary schools in Boulder, Colorado; Freeburg, New Athens and Millstadt, Illinois.

After retirement, she was able to travel and go to the places she had read about. She was able to put her hand in the water of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and traveled to three different continents. She traveled beyond the Arctic Circle and the equator twice. Her hobbies were quilting, cooking, sewing, reading, singing in a choir, traveling and being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of ADK Sorority, Illinois Retired Teachers, St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville, IL and First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, William Strohm.

She is survived by her children Julia (Dennis) Smith of Oak Ridge, TN, Glenn (Danielle) Heil of Magnolia, TX and John (Tammy) Heil of Winter Springs, FL; seven grand-children: Brittany (Chris) Kenimer, Andrew Smith, Nicholas Heil, Brett (Brandi Cardenas) Heil, Mitchell (Leslyn Felder) Heil, Trevor Heil and Ella Heil, and three great-grandchildren: Zoe, Tanner, and Wyatt Kenimer; one sister, Gloria Strohm and two nieces, Laura (Kris) Armstrong , Elise (Brett) White, and great-niece Avery White.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Belleville, IL on Saturday, November 2, 2024 with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Michelle Torigian officiating. Interment will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory in Belleville, IL.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West “B” Street, Belleville, Illinois 62220.