Margret Kerns Heater, age 100 of Adair, Iowa, died at New Homestead in Guthrie Center, Iowa. She was born August 31, 1922, in Casey, Iowa, the daughter of Carl and Elizabeth Ernst. She grew up on the family farm northeast of Casey and graduated from Casey High School in 1939. After graduation, she decorated wedding cakes in Barbara’s Bake Shop in Des Moines until her marriage to Russell Paul Kerns on November 9, 1944. While Paul was in the South Pacific during WW II, she lived in Oakland, California, where she worked as a cashier in the dress department at Kahn’s department store. After Paul’s discharge from the Navy, they moved back to the Ernst family farm in Casey, where Margret’s parents retired. Two daughters were born to that marriage, Kathy and Linda.
The family moved to Adair in 1969 after Paul took a job as a mechanic with D.O.T. He passed away suddenly in 1979, and Margret entered the working world again. She became a Hostess at Happy Chef in Adair for 23 years. She was an active member of the Adair Methodist Church. Her many talents included sewing, crocheting, playing the piano, cooking, and baking (and collecting teddy bears). On October 6, 1984, she married Calvin Heater in Adair. With this marriage, she was welcomed by five more children, Dennis, Darla, Darnell, Donette, and Deanne and became an instant grandmother. The grandchildren were very special to her, and they blessed her with many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren!
Margret and Calvin enjoyed traveling and living on the farm in Adair. Calvin preceded her in death August 5, 2002. Margret then moved to an apartment in Adair. She was able to enjoy many years there, thanks to the many, many friends who helped her. It truly “took a village” for her to be able to live there so long. She moved to The New Homestead Assisted Living, Guthrie Center, in 2019 and made new friends of fellow residents and the staff and enjoyed her new apartment. In July, it was time to transition to the nursing home unit, and she frequently spoke of the wonderful care she received in both of those settings. Her 100th birthday was quiet, but the celebration went on for weeks, with many visits from friends and family and over 80 birthday cards. She met her goal of living to 100, and enjoyed her family, friends, and life. She retained her sense of humor and quick wit to the very end.
She was preceded by her parents, her husbands, daughter Linda Brock and her husband Kevin; grandson Jason Guisinger; sisters Alma Hall and Cecilia Harris, sons-in-law Dan Guisinger and Kevin McCann; daughter-in-law Shirley Heater; and grandson-in-law Dennis Allers.
She leaves her children, Dennis Heater (Delores) of Oak Grove, Missouri; Darla (Marvin) Seaton of Omaha, Nebraska; Kathy (Russell) of Hamden, Connecticut; Darnell (Jim) Kinzie of Anita; Donette Guisinger of Grimes; and Deanne (Rick) Child of Osceola. A nephew, Tom (Melinda) Heater, made up the family circle in Iowa, which includes the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren children and great-great-grandchildren that brought such joy to her life. She also leaves a nephew, Glenn (Gaye) Harris in Detroit, Michigan.
Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Adair United Methodist Church in Adair, Iowa with Rev. Charlene Wolfe officiating. Burial will follow at the Oakwood Cemetery near Casey, Iowa. Visitation with the family will be one hour before the services at the church. Memorials can be made in her honor to the Adair United Methodist Church and can be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home at P. O. Box 523 – Atlantic, Iowa.
The Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa is caring for Margret and her family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com
