Mass of Christian Burial for 84 year old Robert “Bob” Heiman will be 10:30 am Saturday May 9th at Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Ayrshire with military rites conducted by the Iowa Army National Guard and the Ayrshire American Legion. Visitation will be 3 - 6 pm Friday May 8th at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg.
Robert “Bob” J. Heiman, son of Wilbur and Evelyn (Pietig) Heiman, was born October 25, 1941 in Carroll, Iowa. He moved to Ayrshire with his parents and brother Bill in 1944. Bob attended Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School and then Ayrshire Consolidated High School, graduating in 1960. Following graduation, Bob served in the U.S. Army Reserves as a cook.
Bob was the oldest of seven children and was raised on a farm north of Ayrshire. He learned to drive a tractor by the time he was 10 years old. He continued to farm for 30 years and then drove a truck for Morton Building in Spencer for 25 years. Having never been a stranger to a hard day’s work, he worked until he was 70 years old.
Bob lived a life that was led by love, faith, and service. On April 7, 1984, Bob was united in marriage to Jeani Cox at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ayrshire. For forty-two years, they created a life dedicated to their family, friends, and community. Bob was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church before becoming a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. He served his community as a member of the Silver Lake Fire Department, the Ayrshire American Legion Post #173, the Ayrshire Betterment Association, the town council, and he was even elected as town mayor.
Bob enjoyed the simple things in life, including fishing and his pontoon boat, his garden and raising vegetables, his carpentry and building skills, adding on to his house, and helping his nieces and nephews with their many projects.
Bob died on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 84. He remained resilient and hopeful through his treatments, and he battled to the end. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Evelyn, and his brothers, Bill, Don, and Gary, as well as his sisters-in-law, Trudy and Ann Heiman.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Jeani; his brother John Heiman of Ayrshire, IA; his sisters Mary Jane Treska (Tom) of Urbandale, IA, and Joann Conlon (Joe) of Allison, IA; and his sisters-in-law Linda Heiman of Ayrshire, IA, Joemae Cox of Sun City West, AZ, and Judi Duhn (Wendell) of Emmetsburg, IA. He is also survived by 17 nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Funeral services are provided by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg, IA.
