Lorna Emilie Emma (Ohlde) Heitman, 98 years and 3 days went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 8, 2026, at Linn Community Nursing Home, Linn, KS.
Visitation will be Friday, January 16, 2026 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer, KS from 4 to 6 p.m. with the family present.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 17 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. John Werner will officiate.
Lorna was born January 5, 1928, at the farm east of Palmer, KS, to Henry E. and Emilie E. (Jording) Ohlde. She was baptized January 8, 1928, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, by Rev. J.G.B. Keller, Palmer, KS. On March 29, 1942, Lorna was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
She attended eight years of elementary school, and two years of high school at St. John’s Lutheran School.
Lorna was united in marriage to Elmer C. Heitman, on June 15, 1947, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, by Rev. George Lehenbauer. This union was blessed with four children, in five years.
Lorna’s early years were spent helping on the family farm. Her first employment was as a telephone operator at Linn, KS, and later Palmer, KS. She served as a director of the Bank of Palmer, Palmer, KS, for 30 years. She was very dedicated to being a Hospice volunteer, 4-H leader and participant at the Washington County Fair, tying quilts for Orphan Grain Train, sewing infant items, quartet singing, and playing many games of cards with family and friends. She was honored to serve in the Palmer Booster Club. For a number of years, she committed herself to Palmer Labor Day by having a hand stitched quilt ready to raffle at the festivities. After the death of Elmer, Lorna found herself helping the elderly to their appointments and playing cards and games at the Linn Community Nursing Home on Monday mornings.
Visiting shut-ins and calling on a daily basis to check those who were living alone were very important to her.
Her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and friends enjoyed Lorna’s delicious baking of buns, cabbage runzas, and coffee cakes. Her most beautiful artwork, as expressed through her hand quilted quilts, will be treasured by her family.
Lorna was a member at St. John’s Lutheran Church. She provided leadership and service in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Tabitha Society, and church choirs.
She was predeceased by her parents; loving husband, Elmer; daughter, Linda Ruhnke; son-in-law, Rev. Frederick Ruhnke; sister and husband, LaVera and Kenneth Olson; brother and wife, Raymond and Gladys Ohlde; father and mother-in-law, William and Martha (Meier) Heitman; sister-in-law and husband, Edna and Howard Olsen; brothers-in-law and wives, Robert and Gretchen Heitman, LaVern and Dora Heitman, Wilbur and Hilda Heitman
She is survived by her loving children; Michael (Sharon) Heitman, Auburn, KS; Dinah (Richard) Rodehorst, Downs, KS; Donald (Tammi) Heitman, Palmer, KS
Lorna is a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren: John (Lindsay) Ruhnke, Marcus (Danielle) Ruhnke, Jason Heitman, Aaron (Beth) Rodehorst, Ethan(Kelsey) Rodehorst, Chelcie Heitman, and Trevor (Carrie) Heitman.
She also was blessed with fourteen great grandchildren: Robert, Amy, and Margaret Ruhnke; Lucy, Tatum, Emerson, and Ruby Ruhnke; Isabel, Charlotte, and William Rodehorst; Murphy Jade Rodehorst; Carlie, Leo, and Emma Heitman.
A memorial fund is established to The Lutheran Women Missionary League, Kansas District and St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer, KS. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, PO Box 157, Washington, KS 66968.
