Helen Joanne Heidt

Helen Joanne Heidt, 94, of Grand Island, NE died Sunday, August 3, 2025, at Tiffany Square Care Center, surrounded by her loving family. Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Libory’s Catholic Church in St. Libory, NE. The Rev. Sidney Bruggeman as celebrant. Visitation will be Friday, August 8, 2025, from 4 – 6 p.m. at the church with a vigil service at 6. Interment will be in Clay Center Cemetery on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 3 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Tiffany Square Care Center or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Joanne was born March 30, 1931, in Verona, NE the second daughter of Ralph L. and Helen E. (Schneller) Alberding. She grew up in the Clay Center area attending Bethel School and later graduating from Clay Center High School in the class of 1948. She worked for Werner Construction for four years before attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. After serving as a student teacher in Arapahoe, NE, she returned to teach Business Education and Algebra. She met Ernest, a teacher and coach in Oxford, NE and the two were married December 27, 1959. She and Ernest moved to Swink, CO where Joanne taught, and Ernest coached at his High School Alma Mader in Ordway, CO. They moved to Simla, CO where Ernest served as principal and both attended graduate school at Colorado State University. Joanne earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. The couple lived in Lyman, Arapahoe, and Beemer, NE. Joanne was a homemaker caring for her children and continued to culture her love of education as a substitute teacher. Ernest died in 1999. Joanne moved to Grand Island in 2012 to be near her children and grandchildren.

Joanne was a devoted wife and mother. She was a member and past officer of the Legion Auxiliary, National Federation of Women’s Clubs, Extension Club, and delivered Meals on Wheels. She was devoted to her Christian faith and volunteered at church in any way possible. She delighted in her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews to whom she was affectionately known as “Grandma Jo,” “Aunt Joanie,” and “Aunt Joanne.”

Joanne is survived by her son, David Heidt of Norfolk, NE and daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” (Ken) Kozisek of St. Libory, NE, grandsons, Nicholas Kozisek of St. Libory, NE and Jacob (Breanna) Kozisek of St. Paul, NE; sisters-in-law, Esther Osborne of Broomfield, CO and Kathryn Powell of Plano, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Heidt; her parents, Ralph and Helen Alberding; her sister Doris Mihm; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bobbie Mihm, Edward (Myrtle) Heidt, Freida (Henry) Brown, Herman (Jean) Heidt, Melvin (Marjorie) Heidt, Leroy (Nadine) Heidt, and Claude Osborne.