Shirley L. Heideman, 82, of Seneca, KS, died on Thursday, August 14, 2020 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.

She was born Shirley Lee Meyer, daughter of Solomon “Solly” and Ella Marie Lockas Meyer on February 12,1938 in Pawnee City, Nebraska.  She grew up in the Bern community and graduated from Seneca High School as valedictorian in 1956.

During her junior and senior years of high school she worked at the Log Cabin Café, owned by her parents at the time.

On January 10, 1957, she married George Heideman at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in Hiawatha for a year where he worked for George Gudenkauf Rendering Service. They returned to Seneca where they purchased the meat department at the A&P from Bob Calderwood. Shirley was also employed by the ASC office. In 1964, they sold the meat market to Bill Murphy. They built the Heideman Locker in June of 1966 where they did custom slaughtering and meat processing for 25 years. In 1989, they opened the Heideman Smoke House on Seneca’s Main Street and sold it in 1997. Shirley was a bus driver for the school district for many years and was very fond of her bus kids.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Ann’s Society at the church, and was a past Altar President. She was also a founding member of the STEP Foundation and member of the Nemaha County Historical Society. Shirley served several years as an EMT. In her free time, Shirley enjoyed bowling, gardening, baking and cooking; and loved animals.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Janice Grauer of Seneca; her son, Dan (Cindy) Heideman of Wamego; a sister, Charlotte Haug of Seneca; five granddaughters; and twelve great-grandchildren.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George. Heideman on February 16, 2004; and her son-in-law, Randy Grauer on December 25, 2018.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10AM Monday, August 17, 2020 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A Rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Sunday, August 16th at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given in Shirley’s memory to the Nemaha County Historical Society or to the STEP Foundation, and sent in care of the family.