Barbara Heilman

Barbara Jean Heilman, daughter of James Estes Smith and Delores “Dee” Wynell (Lakey) Smith was born September 7, 1946 in Ft. Worth, TX and passed from this life suddenly, Saturday, March 12, 2022 at her home in Osceola, IA at 75 years of age.

Barbara grew up in the Ft. Worth, TX area, she attended Brewer High School in the White Settlement suburb of Ft. Worth. Barbara loved to dance, jitterbug and swing dancing, and competed in many dance competitions with her brother Bill. She worked at the military base in Austin, TX and where she met John Heilman of Osceola, IA and they were married September 14, 1971 in Austin, TX. Following John’s discharge from the U.S. Air Force, they moved to Osceola and Barbara attended beauty school in Des Moines. She worked as a beautician, renting a chair from Patsy Livesay, then opening her own shop “The Hair After” and also sharing a shop with Ed Davis. Barbara fixed hair for many years and later, on nights and weekends while going to Southwestern Community College where she received her Associates Degree in Accounting, always being on the Dean’s list for academics. Following receiving her Associates Degree she went to work for Clarke Community Schools where she worked for 17 years. She enjoyed being around the kids.

Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and GiGi (great grandmother). She enjoyed sharing her love for hair and makeup with her granddaughters. She was an avid reader and enjoyed all things music, sharing that with family by gifting special music gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Barbara was an active member of Christ’sWay Church in Osceola, enjoying bible study, Women’s retreats, and church services. Family and her dog Pippa, were Barbara’s greatest loves, she will be greatly missed.

Those relatives who preceded Barbara in death were her parents, James and Dee Smith, daughter, Carla Heilman, brother, William “Bill Smith and her mother and father-in-law Jack and Lela Heilman.

Barbara leaves to cherish her memory; husband of 50 years, John O. Heilman of Osceola, IA, son, James (Alicia) Heilman of Arlington, TX, daughter, Tracey (Clayton Reed) McBroom of Garden Grove, IA, grandchildren,  Frank (Amberly) McBroom of Audubon, NJ, Randi (Tyson) Rumley of Leon, IA, Joshua Reasoner of Des Moines, IA, Stevie (Joseph) Parmer of Humeston, IA, Heather (Rob) Taylor of Burleson, TX, Georgie Douglas of Des Moines, IA, Dani (Dakota) Holtry of New Virginia, IA, Bobby (Nerriah) Heilman of Truro, IA, Jessica Heilman of Cedar Rapids, IA, James Heilman of Cedar Rapids, IA, Gage Heilman of Arlington, TX, great grandchildren, Sutton, Sienna, Max, Connor, Chloie, Brysen, Waverly (Checkers), Ava, Hudson, Haydn, Payton, and Blakely, brother, Barry (Roberta) Smith of Arlington, TX, sister-in-law, Debbie Smith of Ft. Worth, TX, brother-in-law Bill (Lu) Heilman of Durham, NC and brother-in-law Mark (Carol) Heilman of Osceola, IA as well as many other beloved family and friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola with family greeting friends from 6-8 a.m. Wednesday evening.

Funeral services will be held at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Shane Simpson officiating.

Interment will be at Hopeville Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a fitting tribute to be decided at a later date.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com