Verna S. Heimlich

Verna S. Heimlich, 89, of Belvidere, IL, formerly of Monee, IL, died Friday, June 11, 2021. She was born on April 6, 1932 in Sisseton, SD, to Joseph and Helen (Lohre) Svalstad.

In 1962, Verna married James H. Heimlich in Markham IL. She was a former longtime member of United Christian Church in Country Club Hills, IL, where she held positions as Church Elder, Church Moderator, and Choir Director, and a current member of Crosspoint Church, Rockford, IL. Verna was a singer and piano player, and she belonged to the Young Artists Association of Chicago. She enjoyed reading, word search puzzles, and liked to sketch, draw and paint. She loved cats, especially Missy. She also had 1 dog, Solomon. Her love for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups was well known. Verna was a loving and kind woman who will be missed by all who knew her.

Verna is survived by her children, Sophia (Brian) Ritchey, James Heimlich and Marjorie (Tim) Auman; grandchildren, Zach and Dominic Ritchey, Jake and Brooke Heimlich, and Justus and Morgan Auman; sister, Marjorie Krueger; brothers, Duane (Judy) Svalstad, Darrell (Judy) Svalstad and Dennis Svalstad and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by her parents; husband James Joseph Heimlich in 2004; second husband, William Foss; sister, Joyce Gebhardt and aunt, Sophie Lohre.

A special thank you to the staff at MapleCrest Care Center and Heartland Hospice.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Crosspoint Church, 3215 E. State Street, Rockford, IL, 61108. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until service time.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed on Facebook at facebook.com/crosspointchurchrockford. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Verna’s name to the American Kidney Fund. A special thank you to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory for assisting the family. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com