Obituary for Clara Penn Heimburger (1900-1986)
Troy Free Press, Troy, Lincoln County, MO.
From the clippings of John E. Meyer.

Clara Penn HEIMBURGER of Troy, Mo., was born December 29, 1900 in Lincoln County, the daughter of William Sherman and Lucy Virginia PENN COTTLE. She passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, October 14, 1986 at her residence. She was 85 years, 9 months and 15 days of age.

In a high noon wedding October 15, 1923 at the Troy Methodist Church, she was united in marriage to Herbert Arthur HEIMBURGER. Two children, a daughter and a son, were born to this couple.

Mr. HEIMBURGER passed away January 13, 1972. Also preceding Mrs. HEIMBURGER in death were two grandsons, Herbert Michael SULLIVAN, who died in October 1967 and Daniel J. SULLIVAN who died in February 1970.

Surviving Mrs. HEIMBURGER, are her daughter, Lucy Belle and her husband, John L. SULLIVAN of Silex, Mo., and Sherman HEIMBURGER and his wife, Lynda of Nashville, Indiana. She is also survived by the following grandchildren: Thomas R. SULLIVAN and his wife, Lynn of Harrison, Ar., Katherine and her husband, Russell MUDD of Silex; Cynthia A. SULLIVAN of Kansas City, Mo., and Kenneth E. SULLIVAN of Indianapolis, In.; Bart HEIMBURGER of Los Angeles, Ca., Dr. David HEIMBURGER of Indianapolis and Frances HEIMBURGER of Nashville, In.; also the following great-grandchildren: Sharon SULLIVAN, Kyle SULLIVAN, Julia MUDD and Jessica MUDD; many nieces and nephews, a number of cousins, a multitude of friends and neighbors and her very special friends, Curt and Bette TAYLOR and their family.

Mrs. HEIMBURGER graduated from Buchanan High School in 1920. After graduation she studied nursing at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

While her children were small, she was able to travel with her husband who was an electrical engineer. The family lived in Springfield, Ma., Chicago, Cincinnati, Ohio and finally settled in Troy, Mo., in January 1940 where he opened a heating and plumbing business.

When back in Troy, Mrs. HEIMBURGER again became active in her chosen profession. At the time, most babies were born at home. She was the nurse that assisted Dr. PENN, Dr. Joe CREECH, Dr. HARRIS, Dr. DAMRON and Dr. WOEGER in many, many deliveries. She was the first surgical nurse at Lincoln County Memorial Hospital when it opened in 1953. Later, she became the head of the Obstetrics Department at the Lincoln County Memorial Hospital in Troy. All in all, Mrs. HEIMBURGER assisted with well over 1200 babies coming into the world. Wherever she went in the Troy area, people would show her their children, "One of her babies", or they themselves would be "One of her babies". She helped with the delivery of the second generation of many families.

She was an active member of the Troy Presbyterian Church and of the Troy Presbyterian women.

She was very active in community work and held membership in a number of organizations. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and held offices in that organization; she was a member and past president of the Troy Chautauqua Reading Club, she was a Charter member and past president of the Troy Business and Professional Women’s Club and in 1966 was chosen "Woman of the year", by that organization. Wherever the family lived, she was active in PTA work. She was a member of the Scottish Rite Women’s Club of St. Louis. Mr. HEIMBURGER was a Rotarian and Mrs. HEIMBURGER was an active Rotary Ann. She was president of the Troy PTA for the 1942-43 school year, and during her year as president, guided the PTA through their first annual PTA carnival.

During the war years she was very active in the Red Cross and in the sale of War Bonds. For her excellent work she received a commendation from the Red Cross for the years 1943 and 1944.

Along with Mrs. HEIMBURGER’s myriad of interests was her strong urge to help people. She always found time to assist where ever there was illness among her family and friends, long after she retired.

She was a lady who made her time work for others. Whether you called her Clara PENN, Honey, or Mom HEIMBURGER, she manifested in truth, the name given her by one of her great-granddaughters which is "Great".

Services for Mrs. HEIMBURGER were held October 18 from the Troy Presbyterian Church and burial was in the Troy City Cemetery. Officiating were Rev. Jim WILLIAMS, church pastor and Mrs. HEIMBURGER’s great-nephew, Rev. Corbett HEIMBURGER, pastor of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Valpariso, In. A musical selection "In The Garden" was sung by Bob PENN, a cousin of Mrs. HEIMBURGER.

Serving as pallbearers were her grandsons, Thomas R. SULLIVAN of Harrison, Ar., Bart HEIMBURGER of Los Angeles, Ca., Dr. David HEIMBURGER, M.D., of Indianapolis, In., a nephew, Dr. Richard HEIMBURGER, M.D. of Columbia, a grand-son-in-law, Russ MUDD of Silex and neighbors and family friends, Tom DAVIS, John KINKER and John GOVER, all of Troy and Harry LEEDOM of Hawk Point.

The family requests that memorials be designated for the Troy Presbyterian Church Organ Fund. These may be sent to the church or to the Memorial Committee, Willalma Bishop, treasurer at Boatmen’s Bank of Troy.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Kemper-Marsh Funeral Home of Troy.

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Nancy Weller, 5 September, 2003.

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