Katherine E. Heiman
PORTAGE ‒ Katherine E. Heiman, age 100, Portage, WI, passed away July 25, 2026. She was born in Mazomanie, WI, to Jake & Dora (Miller) Benish, the oldest of six. She grew up on the family farm in Okee, WI, and attended a one-room school through eighth grade. She stayed with a family in Lodi, WI, to attend high school, and graduated with the class of 1944. Katherine continued her education at the Harper Method Beauty School in Madison and then began a 74-year career. She owned the Wyocena Beauty Shop and kept a loyal clientele right up to her retirement in 2018 at the age of 93. She met the love of her life, U.S. Army Air Corps Corporal Robert A. Heiman, at a USO dance. They were married Aug. 18, 1945, in the Truax Field chapel. Bob preceded her in death on Dec. 31, 1984.
Surviving Katherine are her daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl & Rod Kjelstrup, Mishicot and Sue & Bill Mootz, Portage; daughter-in-law, Maralyn “Mickie” & John Coffman, Portage; grandchildren, Bill Wildenberg & Cherlyn Seruto, Chris Kjelstrup, Andrew & Olivia Kjelstrup, Amanda & Tom Kohn, Sam Heiman (Josh Murphy), Katie Heiman (Todd Thurler), and Nikki & Dan Voeltz; great-grandchildren, Garrett Lynch (Cora), Rubie-Ann Kohn, Gracie Kohn, Landon & Jean Jones, Bailey Jones (Ryan), Lily Jones (Jayde), Reed Wildenberg, Irene Wildenberg, Emma Voeltz, Rylee Voeltz & Jimmy Murphy. She is also survived by her sisters, Helen Paepke and Frances Bjerke; her brother, John Benish; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Katherine was preceded in death by her son, Stephen A. Heiman; father- and mother-in-law, Albert and Marjorie (Phillips) Heiman; sisters, Lillian Nelson and Doris & Bob Barman; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Wilbur Nelson, Clifford Paepke, Shirley Bjerke, Mary Ann Benish, Dale & Elaine Heiman, Richard Heiman, and Nancy & Jerry Andrews; a nephew Kent Heiman; and nieces, Pamela Reppy and Debra Moore.
While raising her family, Katherine led a Girl Scout Troop and Garrison Go-Getters 4-H Club, and she was an active member of the Fort Winnebago Homemakers Club and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She and Bob loved to go square-dancing with Bob and Cloe Rehdantz and the Watermelon Squares on Saturday nights. In 1951, she attended the first Benish family reunion in Hillsboro. Over a hundred people attended, some of whom hadn’t seen each other in 45 years. That reunion started a tradition that lasted until 2018, with Katherine hosting many of them. In 1963, she also began an annual family potluck on her farm and has made it a well-attended 4th of July event ever since. Over the years, the immediate family has gathered frequently to enjoy a good meal and swap stories in her country kitchen. And as time passed and the group grew and shrank, the welcome mat was always out for the stray kids or critters.
A memorial service will be held at the Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 11:30 a.m., with Chaplain Nancy Davis officiating. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:30 until 11:15 a.m. There will be no evening visitation.
The family would like to thank the staff at Columbia Health Care Center for taking such good care of our mom & grandma. She was the glue that held our family together and will be missed by all.
Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home, in Portage, is assisting the family.
