Gladys Mae Macke Heiman, 91 passed away on August 24, 2022, at Life Care Center, Seneca, KS.

She was born on July 16th, 1931, at Axtell Hospital. She was the oldest and only daughter of Frank B. and Florina Rettele Macke. She was baptized with the name of Mary Gladys Macke and then was given the name of Gladys Mae Macke.  She attended Grade School and High School at Baileyville, graduating as class salutatorian in 1949. Along with her scholarly achievements, she also enjoyed sports especially basketball. She was very involved with participating in several school plays. Upon graduation she began studies at St. Mary’s Xavier College, in Leavenworth, KS. She followed that with her nurse’s training at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, KS, graduating in 1953. She successfully passed the Registered Nurse licensing exam allowing her to start her lifetime nursing career. All 48 years she provided nursing care were at her employment with Seneca Hospital and the current Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS. She was a very dedicated and loyal employee with her retirement at age 70. Her nursing duties involved all the aspects that a small rural hospital has including time spent in the Surgical Department.  She was instrumental in helping to acquire any needed equipment and she was a key part in fundraising activities for the hospital. She was greatly involved with and also served as an officer with the Hospital Guild Board.

Gladys married Arthur Heiman on August 8, 1953, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Baileyville, KS by Father Albert Wietharn, Art’s uncle. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to Art’s passing September 13, 2013. To this union and surviving Gladys now are her five children. Mike (Jolene) Heiman, Doug (Lora) Heiman, and Keith Heiman all of Baileyville. Mary Altenhofen (Dean), Westmoreland, KS and Jim Heiman (Amy) of Silver Lake, KS. She will be greatly missed by her 13 grandchildren and her 16 great grandchildren. Also surviving Gladys, are her three brothers, Merlin (Alice), Axtell, KS Larry (Judy), Seneca, KS and Gary Macke (Bertha), Prescott Valley, AZ.

Gladys was a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society of Baileyville. She served as an Altar Society officer and helped with quilting the numerous quilts that were auctioned at the annual Church picnic. Her devoted and deep Catholic faith which included daily prayer and saying the Rosary.

Gladys was a positive lady by nature and shared that with countless people during her lifetime. Her gracious personality was infectious not only to her family but to all those she encountered. She was a very kind and compassionate nurse. The patients were fortunate and appreciative to have experienced her empathetic nursing care.

She liked the neighborly small-town hospitality of the area in which she lived and raised her family. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her family including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed the family time sharing home cooked meals, laughter, card playing and visiting. She baked numerous delicious Angel Food cakes from scratch and her pies and cookies were equally as good! She enjoyed tending to her flower and rose gardens.

Gladys is preceded in death by her husband, Art Heiman, her parents Frank B. and Florina Macke, and her two brothers Francis and Lillis Macke.

Rosary will be recited at 2 and 7 pm on Sunday, August 28, 2022, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Mass of Christian Burial will be the following day August 29, 2022, at 10 A.M. at The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville.  The Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial contributions are to be designated at a later date.