Jacquelyn A. Heilman's Obituary
Jacquelyn Heilman, 90, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2016 at her home in Benson, Arizona.
Jacquelyn was the oldest child of John “Jack” and Alice Geisland, born on August 10, 1926 in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Devilbis High School in 1944. After WWII Jacquelyn entered college as an art major and met her future husband, LeRoy F. Heilman, the center of the University of Toledo Rockets football team. (She needed a ride home from a tennis game, and a friend suggested she “ask Lee; he has a car!”) She graduated from the University of Toledo in 1948, and married LeRoy Heilman on August 4, 1950. They raised their family of four children in Toledo, until 1963 when they moved to Plymouth, Michigan. Then in 1966, they moved west to Arizona.
Jacquelyn contributed to many community organizations, including Cub Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts. She was active in the PTA, and helped to expand the availability of education in her locale. Jacquelyn taught art, English and literature, and remedial reading throughout her adult life, earning a Masters in Education from Arizona State University. She retired from teaching in the classroom in Tucson in 1992. She was also active in civic activism of the time, teaching art in Detroit in the 1960s, marching for workers’ and teachers’ causes in the 70s and 80s, and working as a voting booth official for many years. When not at work, Jacquelyn was always busy with camping, painting, reading, collecting art, amateur anthropology, and her dear dogs. But more than all else, she loved spending time with her family and her friends.
Jacquelyn is survived by her youngest brother, John Geisland (Karen), and her four children: Chris Heilman (Becky Nichols), Julian Heilman (Sandy), Bronwen Heilman (David Hall), and Jonathan Heilman (Enid). Her grandchildren are Josh Kanto (Cortney Philip), Bronwyn Erin Rees, Maya Hawk Heilman-Hall, Sam Nichols, and Olivia Nichols, Chris Morris (Nora), Crystal Eaves (Mike), Tammy Morris and Jenna Morris. Her great-grandchildren are Evelyn Nichols and Royce Nichols-Green, Nadyah Embry, Connor and Caleb Eaves, Aliah, Zander and Zelek Morris, and Marley Navarro. She also is survived by her many, many nieces, nephews, and their families. Jacquelyn was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Geisland, her sister Dolores Pittman, and her beloved husband, Lee.
The family would like to thank Maria Anguiz for her love for and attention to Jacquelyn during the past many months.
A service to celebrate the life of Jacquelyn will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 28th at Evergreen Cemetery. The family will greet guests prior to the service, and after, a celebratory dinner will be held at Jacquelyn's favorite restaurant.
Donations as memorials may be directed to the charity of your choice.
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