Josephine Heaps

Thelma Josephine (Ambrose) Heaps was born on December 29, 1942, to Walter Joseph and Thelma Mae (Rief) Ambrose in Lawton, Oklahoma. When her father entered WWII the family lived with grandparents. Until she was 12 the family farmed near Woodbine then moved to a farm near Council Bluffs. Josephine graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1960. She then attended UNO and Iowa State University. On January 6, 1963, Josephine married Bill Heaps at the Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs. In 1963 Bill and Josephine moved to New York where all four children were born. In 1976 the family moved to Dunlap. In 1989, Josephine completed her degrees at UNO and Iowa State. Josephine worked as a dietician until December 2015.
Josephine loved serving her church family. Her personal relationship with God was of primary importance but she treasured her husband of 54 years, children and grand-children. A great deal of her life she spent praying with, praying for and caring for anyone in need. She took delight in having a large garden and growing flowers for display. Josephine and Bill enjoyed their vacations, traveling, and meeting people. They made friends all over the world.
From Rose Vista in Woodbine, Iowa Josephine entered heaven on June 5, 2017, at the age of 74 years, five months, and seven days.
Josephine was preceded in death by her father, Walter and her brother, Walter Jr. She is survived by her husband, Bill Heaps of Dunlap; four children, Bill Jr. (Mary) Heaps of Ozark, Missouri, Kimberly Heaps of Woodbine, John (Molly) Heaps of Dunlap, Jason Heaps of Aspen, Colorado; mother, Thelma Ambrose of Walnut, Iowa; two sisters, Sandra (LeRoy) Wood of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Marie (Chuck) King of Houston, Texas; six grand-children, Jordan and Grant (Bill Jr.), Noah (Kimberly), Joel and Justin (John), Jacob (Jason) and many other relatives and friends.