Eileen Heilman

Eileen Heilman, age 57, of Clark died at home on Thursday afternoon, June 5, 2014 with family surrounding her after a four and half year battle with Ovarian Cancer. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 12, 2014 from 4-7PM with a Liturgical Wake Service beginning at 7PM all in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark. Visitation will continue at the Church in Clark on Friday morning after 9:30AM. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 13, 2014 at 11AM in the St. Michael's Catholic Church at Clark with The Reverend John Short as celebrant. The active casketbearers will be Chad and Craig Flemming, Sean Gromer, Adam Kranz, James Meyer, Kevin Heilman, Jake Lassle, and Brennan Kranz. The Honorary casketbearers will be present and past St. Michael's choir members and former co-workers at Prairie Lakes Home Connections. The organ music was lovingly recorded by Eileen Heilman for the mass with music by St. Michael's Choir and special music by Brandon Varilek. Burial will be at 1PM on Saturday, June 14, 2014 in the St. Augustine's Catholic Cemetery at Bowdle. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated in her memory to the St. Michael's Choir or St. Michael's Church both at Clark, SD or to St. Augustine's Church at Bowdle, SD. Eileen's parents were Al and Phyllis (Kracke) Kranz. The family grew up on the farm northeast of Waverly. Eileen attended and graduated from Waverly High School. Wayne and Eileen were married on February 28, 1976 at Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown, SD. They showed all of us what "in sickness and in health" meant in a marriage. Eileen worked for the Clark County Ambulance from 1977-86. She then started at Prairie Lakes Home Connections from 1986-2012 as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She made a special relationship with each one of her clients. She claims she 'had' to watch The Young and The Restless because of her little ladies but she would never admit to liking it. Somehow every day the TV happened to be on that channel and could not be turned during that hour! Eileen started her love for piano and organ as a teenager. Her place was always behind the organ in the St. Michael's choir. Her music will live on with the help of modern technology. Eileen enjoyed bike riding, camping and some entertaining tennis matches against Wayne. Also, in the recent years, introducing the grandkids to our family's love for the Hart Ranch in Rapid City. When Eileen was diagnosed with cancer she made the choice to fight every day, to spend more time with her family and friends, especially for the grandkids. She finished so many things off her bucket list and made so many memories during her journey. Blessed to have made memories with Eileen were her husband Wayne, Tami (Richard) Adam of Midland, MI, Wade (Kristin) Heilman of Brandon, MN, Chantel Heilman of Midland, MI; siblings Mike (Arleen) Kranz of Watertown, Kathy (Neal) Koustrup of Richland, WA, Jeannette (Larry) Gromer of Mitchell, Alan (Vernia) Kranz, Karen (Earl) Baumgarn all of Watertown, Chuck (Emma) Kranz of Huron, Carol (Leroy) Flemming of Florence, Don (Leslie) Kranz, Doug Kranz all of Watertown, Keith (Amy) Kranz of Coon Rapids, MN; In-Laws Kevin (Glenda) Meyer of Watertown, Gene (Myrna) Heilman of Madison, WI, Jack (Linda) Heilman of Brandon, Kathy (Bob) Quam of Aberdeen, Rosemary (Ron) Oleson of Pierre, Vern (Tammy) Heilman of Aberdeen, SD Gary Heilman, Harlan (Barb) Heilman all of Houston, TX, her godfather Jerry Kranz of Spokane, WA., 6 grandkids, Henry, Chloe, Luke, Cadence, Wyett & Lily; many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents and sibling, Frances, Richard, Anthony & Marian. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com