Patricia Heusinkveld, age 91, of rural Preston, Minn., passed away December 15, 2019, at the Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony, Minn.
Born in Washington, Minn., to Guy and Jennie (Smith) Bicknese, Pat attended country school and graduated from Worthington High School. Following high school she attended a year of Normal Training School and taught at Sunnyside Country School in Nobles County. She met Leland Heusinkveld at a Church of the Brethren district conference. They were married in 1949.
After moving to southeastern Minnesota to farm on Leland’s family farm, she taught at Prairie Queen Country School in Fillmore County. She continued her education with a Baccalaureate Degree in education from Winona State College. In 1962 she began teaching in the Harmony Public Schools, first as a combination 3rd/4th grade and 4th/5th grade classroom teacher, then as a Title 1 teacher after finishing her Master’s in remedial reading in 1967.
After retirement, Pat and Leland pursued their passions for travel, gardening, feeding birds, and service – Pat often serving as a school volunteer and delivering Meals on Wheels. She shared house plants and garden produce with many. A lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, she was an advocate for Heifer International and the end of global hunger. Her last act of caring and sharing was donating her body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program for research and teaching. She loved the color orange!
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two nephews.
She is survived by her children Dawn (Jeff) Peter of Pelican Rapids, Minn., and Dale Heusinkveld of Preston, Minn.; grandchildren Beth (Jeff Johnson) Peter and John (Anna) Peter, and eight great-grandchildren: Caroline, Annika, Naomi, Gustaf, Phoebe, Esther, Silas, and Ruth; her brothers Gene (Gret) Bicknese and Byron (Alice) Bicknese, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Greenleafton Reformed Church on Saturday, December 21, 2019, at 11 a.m. with greeting and gathering at 10:30 a.m., with Pastor Roger Lokker officiating.
A private family burial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Heifer International, Heartland Hospice, Harmony Gundersen Care Center, or to a charity of your choice.
Ellen Lawson says
Sorry for the loss for the family. I remember lots of laughs with Pat and Leland. Leland was the best teacher I ever had.
Ellen Bonnes Lawson
Anonymous says
Sorry for the loss for the family. I remember lots of laughs with Pat and Leland. Leland was the best teacher I ever had.
Ellen Bonnes Lawson
Roxie says
So sorry for your loss Dale.
Jana Tomlonson says
Pat was a very special person in my life. I spent almost every Saturday with her. Helping her at her lovely home. She taught me so much. Much more than domestic lessons, like cleaning and cooking and gardening. But also, life lessons gently taught by her wisdom and patience. I am so glad that Daddy and Mary and I got to visit her while we were there for the church closing. I was also proud to learn more of her family history which Dale shared at the service. I am proud and blessed to have had her in my life. Jana Tomlonson