Patricia “Pat” Louise Heckenbach, 85, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018 after a brief illness.
Pat was born in Warrensburg, Missouri on March 22, 1933, the daughter of Louis Lorenz Blank and Ola Agnes Deuel. She was the only girl of six children and the youngest by over 9 years.
She graduated from Warrensburg High School in 1951 and went to the big city of Kansas City for employment at Clipper Manufacturing Company, Encyclopedia Americana and Missouri Public Service until she married Hermann Heckenbach on May 3, 1958. After her divorce, she went back to Warrensburg with her two children and started work as a clerk on December 1, 1965 at Central Missouri State College. She retired on December 8, 1997 as a Financial Aid Counselor at the University. Upon retirement, she moved to Excelsior Springs to live with her daughter.
Pat was an ardent reader. On any day, she could be found in her cozy chair reading a book on her Kindle, listening to a book on tape, or reading a large print book. She generally had three books going at the same time. She was also an avid baseball fan and loved her Royals along with the Mets, Giants, Nationals, and baseball in general. She truly enjoyed her trip to Arizona for Spring Training to watch ‘her boys’. She also had a soft spot for cats and had many good cats over her lifetime. Additionally, one of her favorite pastimes was visiting greenhouses in the Spring and buying as many flowers as the car could hold. After those were planted, she’d have to go to a different greenhouse for more.
She was preceded in death by her parents and five brothers.
Survivors include her daughter, Anita of Excelsior Springs; her son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Jennifer and grandson, Alexander of Miller; granddaughter, Katarina of Springfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be no services after her cremation. Pat’s ashes will be scattered at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Arrangements provided by Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
Our Sincere Condolences
Remembering Pat, she was always a great co worker.
She will be missed by many.
Gary and Janice Curtis
Anita:
I was sorry to hear about the passing of your mother in December. Please email me; I would like to hear from you.
Your former professor, John Nold.