Jerome Wilbert Heiman, 80, of Holden, Missouri, died Saturday, March 7, on his farm surrounded by his family.

Jerome was born Oct. 21, 1934, in Montrose, Missouri, the son of Cornelius “Colonel” Heiman and Lucy K. (Hake) Heiman. He graduated from Rockville High School in 1953. Jerome went to work for a brief time with his father and brothers in the family business, Heiman Grain in Rockville before being drafted into the United States Army where he served his country from 1956 until 1959. He was united in marriage to Evelyn “Sue” Wix on Nov. 14, 1959, in Montrose.
In 1963, the family business expanded with the purchase of a grain elevator in Butler, which Jerome managed until the operation was lost to a fire. Sue and Jerome returned to Montrose and started a grain and feed business that they owned and operated for the next 11 years. In 1975, they moved to Holden and purchased a grain elevator from his brother Ted. They operated the business with their son David through 2001 and daughter Diane and her husband, Mark, for the past 30 years.
While in Montrose, Jerome served as mayor, a volunteer fireman, president of Community Betterment and was also grand knight of the local Knights of Columbus council. He has been a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Holden since 1975 where he started the local 6722 council of the Knights of Columbus, served as grand knight for several years and also held positions in the Knights of Columbus state office. His passions included golf, the Kansas City Chiefs and spending time with his family at their lake house. Jerome was a proud season ticket holder to the Chiefs since 1990.
Jerome was a dedicated patriarch, faithful husband and father”. He loved a party, never met a stranger, was an eternal optimist that found the good in everyone and everything he did. Those who carry on his legacy include his wife, Sue; five children, Diane Klossen and husband, Mark, of Holden; David Heiman and wife, Lisa, of Lone Jack, Missouri; Denise Vedder and husband, Bob, of Leawood, Kansas; Deb Bilyeu and husband, Brian, of Chesterfield, Missouri; and Dan Heiman and wife, Jennifer, of Leawood; brother, Charles Heiman and wife, Terry, of Rockville, Missouri; 14 grandchildren, Aaron, Scott, Nick, Nathan, Dane, Laura, Ross, Emilee, Alyssa, Grace, Claire, Lillian, Benjamin and Joseph; two great-grandchildren, Mikah and Fynlee; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents; four sisters, Bernice Griggs, Beatrice Page, Evelyn Brownsberger and Rita Gibbons; and three brothers, Harold, Ted and Jim.
There will be a rosary service 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden, immediately followed by visitation from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Holden with Father Pete Savidge officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Holden with military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Memorial Post 5844 and American Legion Munday-Hancock Post 90.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Crossroads Hospice or Knights of Columbus, Council 6722.
Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net.