Janet P. Heimbigner

Janet P. Heimbigner, age 91, passed away January 4, 2016 in Odessa. Her home is in Odessa. She was born January 2, 1925 in Odessa to Karl and Pauline (Paulsen) Rodeck.

Janet grew up on the Rodeck family farm west of Odessa and attended school in Odessa, graduating from Odessa High School in 1944. She then went to Eastern Washington College of Education (now EWU) and received her B.A. in Education in 1948. Janet married Ralph Heimbigner December 31, 1947, and they made their home at Odessa, where they raised their four children and ran a wheat farm.

Janet is survived by three daughters, Myrna Wolsborn, Sharon (Terry) Robertson, and Celia Heimbigner and one son, Owen Heimbigner. She has three grandsons, TJ (Karrie) Wolsborn, Kurt (Brandi) Wolsborn and Kyle Robertson, along with three great granddaughters, McKaila, Tori, and Vera Wolsborn. Janet is also survived by her brother George Rodeck and a sister Diana Blaskowsky, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Janet is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Heimbigner in 1997, son-in-law Tom Wolsborn, four brothers, Conrad, Fred, Jack and Paul Rodeck and two sisters, Georgina Nicholls and Augusta Hopper.

Janet was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Odessa Booster Club, Readers Club and Odessa Grange. She was active with the Odessa float crew, and designed many award winning floats. Janet served as the Deutschesfest music chairman for years, was affiliated with the Oom Pas and Mas, was a substitute teacher at Odessa and Harrington schools, participated in a bowling league and helped start a Girls Little League program in Odessa. Janet sang in a couple of bands, Stan's Jazz Band and Ace of Diamonds with Tom Van Der Ende. She also shared her gift of song at many weddings through the years. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held on January 23, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa, with Pastor Tim Hauge officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Odessa Healthcare Foundation, Box 368, Odessa WA 99159 or to Christ Lutheran Church, Box 400, Odessa WA 99159. Please sign the online guestbook at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home in Davenport is caring for the Heimbigner family.