Mary Heckmann

Mary Ann Heckmann, 93, left this earthly home and arrived at her heavenly home on June 2, 2012. Mary Ann was born April 11, 1919 to Herman and Annie Wendorf Klar near Carmine, Texas. She was baptized October 26, 1919 in Round Top, Texas by Pastor A. H. Falkenberg. Mary Ann confirmed her faith on March 25, 1934 with Pastor Arthur Hartman of St. Paul''s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham, Texas officiating. She attended Brenham schools, graduating from Brenham High School on May 31, 1937 and received her registered nursing degree from Seton Nursing School in Austin on May 29, 1941. Mary Ann was married to Erwin J. Heckmann on November 16, 1941 at St. Peter''s Lutheran Church in Gay Hill by Pastor John Striepe. She and Erwin first lived in Houston and later made their home on a farm in the Gay Hill Community until 1983, when they moved to Brenham. For the last years, she made her home at Regency Care Center in Austin. In 1949, Mary Ann and Erwin joined Grace Lutheran Church. She helped organize and was a long-time member of Grace Lutheran Ladies Afternoon Circle. Mary Ann was employed most of her life as a registered nurse at Milroy Hospital, St. Jude Hospital, and Brenham Clinic, in its early years working with Dr. Joel Johnson and later with Dr. Robert Haydon. She enjoyed nursing and took great pride in her work. She and Erwin enjoyed dancing and being members of the Top Cat Dance Club, playing cards with friends, and traveling. Mary Ann also enjoyed being a part of the Brenham Clinic Retirees who gathered frequently for fun, food, and fellowship. Mary Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Erwin J. Heckmann on May 11, 1991; parents, Herman and Annie Klar; mother-in-law and father-in-law Rudolph and Malinda Heckmann; grandchildren: Ruth Annette Heckmann and Paul Douglas Heckmann; brothers: Lloyd Klar and Otis Klar; sister and brother-in-law Ida May and Ira Lee Schroeder; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Benny and Gladys Krause, Alex and Lillian Werchan, and Ruby Heckmann. Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law: Douglas and Marilyn Heckmann of Brenham and Ray and Rhonda Heckmann of Austin; grandchildren: Cheryl Lynn and Buzz Moran and Rachel Diane and Roderick Digo Villareal of Austin; step-grandchildren: Raina and Stephen Rabin of Sydney, Australia; great-grandchildren: Aidan Renee and Ethan James Smith, Felix Kalman Moran, all of Austin; Sophie and Sam Rabin of Sydney, Australia; brother-in-law Harry Heckmann of Houston, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and other relatives. Funeral services for Mary Ann Heckmann are scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastors Matthew Jacobs and William Holzer officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Friends of the family will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.