Janet Pauline Rodeck Heimbigner

Passed away January 4, 2016 in Odessa, WA. Her home is Odessa, WA. She was born January 2, 1925 in Odessa, WA to Karl and Pauline (Paulsen) Rodeck. Janet grew up on the Rodeck family farm west of Odessa, and attended school in Odessa, graduating from Odessa High School in 1944. She then went to Eastern Washington College of Education (now EWU) and received her B.A. in Education in 1948. Janet married Ralph Heimbigner on December 31, 1947 and they made their home at Odessa where they raised their four children and ran a wheat farm. Janet is survived by three daughters; Myrna Wolsborn, Sharon (Terry) Robertson, and Celia Heimbigner, and Janet’s son, Owen Heimbigner. She has three grandsons: TJ (Karrie) Wolsborn, Kurt (Brandi) Wolsborn, and Kyle Robertson, along with three great granddaughters: McKaila, Tori, and Vera Wolsborn. Janet is also survived by her brother, George Rodeck, and a sister, Diana Blaskowsky, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Janet is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Heimbigner, in 1997, son-in-law Tom Wolsborn, four brothers: Conrad, Fred, Jack, and Paul Rodeck, and two sisters: Georgina Nicholls and Augusta Hopper. Janet was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Odessa Booster Club, Readers Club, and Odessa Grange. She was active with the Odessa Float crew, and designed many award winning floats. Janet served as the Deutschesfest music chairman for years, was affiliated with the Oom Pas and Mas, was a substitute teacher at Odessa and Harrington schools, participated in bowling league, and helped start a Girls Little League program in Odessa. Janet sang in a couple of bands, Stan’s Jazz Band, and Ace of Diamonds with Tom Vander Ende. She also shared her gift of song at many weddings through the years. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on January 23, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the Christ Lutheran Church, Odessa, WA with Pastor Tim Hauge, officiating. Memorials may be made to the Odessa Healthcare Foundation, PO Box 368, Odessa, WA 99159 or to Christ Lutheran Church, PO Box 400, Odessa, WA 99159. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com. STRATE FUNERALHOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the Heimbigner family.