Marylou Heintz

MaryLou Heintz, 82 of La Crescent, Mn died peacefully on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at her home with her family and friends by her side.

MaryLou was born January 28, 1939 in Spring Grove, MN to Charles and Marjorie (Brynes) Cavanaugh. She attended Country School in Dorchester, IA and later moved to Caledonia where she attended high school at Loretta Catholic School and graduated in 1957. While in school she met her high school sweetheart, Donald Heintz. On June 20, 1959 the couple were married. They have celebrated 61 years of marriage.

In her younger years, MaryLou worked as a nurse’s aide at Franciscan Hospital in La Crosse. In 1973 MaryLou and Donald started their own business called Don Heintz Earthmoving. MaryLou did all of the bookwork for the business. In her spare time, she volunteered at the Crucifixion School for over 50 years. It was a highlight of MaryLou’s day, to serve the lunch program to the children. She knew the children by name and many of them would call her grandma. She belonged to the Crucifixion Women’s Circle and helped to serve many funeral lunches.

MaryLou enjoyed gardening and canning many of the bountiful harvests from her garden. She also enjoyed working in her show case flower beds every year. She was a member of Crucifixion Church Parish for 56 years and was a devout Catholic who practiced her faith daily. MaryLou had a smile that would brighten up a room and her Irish eye will always be smiling.

In addition to her husband Don, she is survived by three daughters; Sharon Glaunert, Chris (David) Rowe and Dawn (Terry) Lewis; grandchildren; Jessica (Richard) Sobeck, Rebecca (fiancée, Matt) Rowe, Luke (Jen) Heintz, Joe (Alex) Heintz, Andy (special friend, Stephanie) Heintz, Bryan (special friend, Meredith) Hemker and Crystal Glaunert; great-grandchildren, Jocelyn and Kasten Heintz, Victoria, Annalisa and Bennett Heintz, and Annabella Glaunert; sisters, Betty Wiemerslage, Ilene (Jim) Dougherty, Lorna (Ron) Schock and Theresa Johnston; sisters-in-law, Vickie Cavanaugh and Margaret Heintz, along with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Steve Heintz on April 14, 2017; sister, Jane O’Brien; brothers, Mark Duffy and Robert Cavanaugh; brothers-in-law, Glen Wiemerslage, Dave O’Brien, Tom Johnston and Jerry Heintz.

MaryLou was an outstanding wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She was treasured by her family and friends. MaryLou will be truly missed by all. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

MaryLou’s family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Leah Metz, Dr. Carrie Gerhard and the Gundersen Hospice Team. Thank you also to our life long neighbors, Josephine Abnet and family, as well as to all the friends that brought food, cards and flowers.

Memorials are suggested to Crucifixion Catholic School.