Alice Marie Heinzman

Alice Marie (Ziegler) Heinzman (94) passed away peacefully on March 23, 2024, surrounded by her children.  Alice was born on November 29, 1929, to Walter and Alice (Husson) Ziegler in Chester, PA.  She was born at home and placed in a dresser drawer bassinet.  When she was 16, her family moved to Lee's Summit, MO.  She graduated from St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, MO.  Alice's employment included payroll, real estate, top sales manager in Tupperware and plants.  Alice excelled in sales because she was very social and loved getting to know people.  Her irresistible smile was contagious, and she could talk and sing (most times creating her own songs) about anything.  Her symbol for her Tupperware sales unit was a smiley face which truly portrayed her personality.  Her granddaughter has kept many of the smiley face items as mementos.

Alice married the love of her life, Don Heinzman, on October 11, 1949, and they were blessed with 7 children: Donna (Donald) Marrs, Dennis (Carla) Heinzman, David (Jo) Heinzman, Diane (Joseph) Majerle, Debbie (Bryan) Johnson, Denise Wilson and Douglas Heinzman.  They were further blessed with 11 grandchildren: Peter Howey, Daniel, Jeffrey, Christopher and Michael Heinzman, Robin (Bradley) Halsey, Emily (Kevin) Trader, Alida and Corey Johnson and Hannah and Haley Wilson; and 6 great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Charlotte and Harrison Halsey and Rose, Evelyn and Thomas Trader.  Alice and Don raised their children in on 50th Terrace in Westwood, KS in a close-knit neighborhood.  They held hands and walked to mass at St. Agnes Catholic Church for over 40 years.  In 1993, they became members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church when they moved to a farmhouse in Edwardsville, KS.  Alice planted flower and vegetable gardens and enjoyed beautiful sunrises, sunsets and the quiet country scenery while still being close to her family.  Alice and Don moved to Westchester Village in Lenexa, KS.  With Alice's outgoing personality, they found another friendly community.  Alice's greatest joy came from her faith and family!  Alice always felt very blessed and had a deep connection to Mother Mary.  She went to mass and prayed the rosary daily.  The beads on one of her rosaries are the birthstones of her children and grandchildren.  Alice provided unconditional love, support and security for her family, and nothing brought her more pleasure than spending time with her family especially "her favorite," as her kids would jokingly call themselves.  Alice and Don raised a close-knit family that shares great relationships with one another and celebrates all occasions (birthdays, anniversaries and holidays) together creating family memories and enjoying Alice's home-cooked family meals.  Alice was very active.  She was a scout leader, alter society chair and she always made time to attend any of her kids or grandkids school functions from VIP days to Christmas programs and choir concerts.  Alice loved babysitting the grandkids whether it was overnight fun with crafts, a trip to explore Cabela's or burritos with all the fixings served out on the screened in porch.

Alice was very creative and a perfectionist.  Her hobbies included oil and pastel painting (countryside, portraits, wildlife), crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching, sewing, quilting, gardening, pottery and ceramics.  With love, she would make a special personalized gift for each family member for every occasion.  Alice also enjoyed traveling in their fifth-wheel trailer, weekends at the lake, walks on the beach and relaxing on the porch in the country.  Alice and Don were Texas snowbirds and spent 20 plus years wintering on South Padre Island.  They would leave shortly after Christmas but always be home in time for Mother’s Day.  Wonderful family vacation memories to South Padre Island, Colorado Springs, Lake of the Ozarks and the YMCA of the Rockies will always be cherished.

Alice will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins and numerous friends.  Alice was an amazing, faithful and loving wife and a caring, kindhearted, tender mother, nana, bama and GG.  She was deeply loved, and her memory will live forever in our hearts.  Alice was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 wonderful years, her daughter Donna and son Douglas, her parents and her brother Walter Jr.

Services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, KS on Thursday, April 4, 2024.  Visitation at 9:30 a.m., rosary at 10:30 a.m., Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. (Livestream www.stjoeshawnee.org), followed by a luncheon then burial at Mount Olivet.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Sister Servants of Mary, 800 N.  18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66102.