Paul L. Heitkamp

Paul Lewis Heitkamp, one of four children of Ida M. (Mack) and Walter Albert Heitkamp, was born in Jefferson, Iowa on May 29, 1946. Paul grew up in Ogden, Iowa and graduated from Ogden High School in 1964. Following school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in Viet Nam during the war. After the service, he returned to Boone, Iowa and worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. During this time, Paul earned his Associate Degree at Fort Dodge Community College. In 1971, he moved to Glenwood, Iowa where he was a resident treatment worker at the Glenwood State Hospital School.

Paul met Kathy Sue Walker from Boone, Iowa, who was also employed at the Glenwood State Hospital School. The couple were married on September 7, 1973 in Glenwood where they made their home. The marriage was blessed with their son, Josh Tyler Heitkamp. In 1984, the family moved to Malvern, Iowa. Paul continued working at the Glenwood Resource Center until his retirement in 2003. In the fall of 2004, Paul became the Teacher Associate at the Malvern Alternative School.

Paul was currently serving on the Variance Board in Malvern and had previously served on the Malvern City Council and the Malvern Volunteer Fire Department. He had enjoyed coaching Little League Football in Malvern and the girls' softball team in Glenwood. Paul was a sports reporter for the Malvern Leader and wrote articles on both Malvern and Nishna Valley sports. Later, he could be seen on the sidelines at Malvern football games taking statistics. Paul was an avid lifelong collector of sports cards. In addition to his love of sports, Paul also enjoyed working in his yard, gardening, and caring for his flowers.

Paul died unexpectedly in the emergency center at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa on January 3, 2009, at the age of 62 years, 7 months, and 4 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Nick Schroeder, and brother-in-law, Randy Walker.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Heitkamp, and son, Josh Heitkamp, both of Malvern; sisters, Elaine Hall and husband Vern of Florida and Judith Schmidt and husband Paul of Harlan, IA; brother, Joel Heitkamp of Harlan; sisters-in-law, Karen Hernandez and husband Sam of Fort Collins, CO and Lorraine Walker of Boone, IA; brother-in-law, Rick Walker of Boone, IA; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

A memorial fund has been established.