Wilma (Nitchals) Heldenbrand (2025)

BAKER, DUNN, HERVEY, HILDENBRAND, NITCHALS, SHELDON, WINKLEMAN, WOLVERTON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 3/8/2025 at 17:23:32

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home

September 22, 1934 — March 5, 2025

Wilma Mae (Nitchals) Heldenbrand was born to Charles and Ella (Wolverton) Nitchals on September 22, 1934, in Stuart, IA, Adair County. She joined sister Mary and brother Bill to complete their family. Mom graduated from Earlham High School class of 1953. She married Joe A. Heldenbrand on December 4, 1954, and together raised Jen, Bea, Lew and Carla in Earlham, IA.

Mom worked at Iowa Jewelers Supply for 49 years for Evelyn and Woody Wedel. Woody hired mom after she correctly answered Woody’s question: How much was in a “gross”? Answer: 144. She loved Steve (Lynn) and Kathy (Ben) as her own.

Mom always enjoyed being outside – working in her flower and vegetable gardens. Picking her raspberries from the vines, gooseberries from the timber, and cherries and apples from friends’ trees. She canned or froze the bounty of her vegetable garden. She made pies from scratch – apple, cherry, black raspberry, gooseberry, and peach – and froze them to be enjoyed all year round. For the holidays she also made pumpkin, coconut cream and banana cream. We all had our favorites. One of the family’s favorites was her homemade chicken and noodles (from scratch). Nothing Better! No need to talk about the Christmas candy! It was amazing!

Mom loved her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, and her niece Vickie and nephews Chuck, Larry and Sam. She also loved the neighborhood kids and friends of her kids, many of whom still called her “Mom”.

Her love was shown in so many ways – finding the right birthday cards and getting them mailed in time for them to be opened on or before the birthday. And spending forever looking for and finding the perfect Christmas ornament to be given each year.

She enjoyed Broadway shows, eating out with family and friends, family get togethers, garage sales, thrifting, road trips, Lori Line concerts, and her soap operas. She also enjoyed helping with Revive Church’s Easter Egg hunts and the Trunk or Treat events.

Mom was usually happy to help her family with “house or yard projects”’ by telling us how she wanted it done! And that is what usually happened - “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”
One of the most important things for her to do these last few years was to dog sit Bailey, her granddog. He soon became her favorite. When Carla came to visit, mom would ask where “her dog” was. If bailey wasn’t with Carla, she would get the “look”. Mom loved Bailey and Bailey loved her.

Mom passed away in the early morning hours of March 5, 2025, with Bailey the dog by her side, along with her daughters and a granddaughter. She will be forever missed by her kids: Bea, Lew (Rose), Carla (David); grandkids: Jason (Veronica), Sarah (Zach), Chelsey (Zack), Cortney (Corey), Nic Winkleman, Gage Shelton, Kurt (Jessica), Kati (Kevin), Jeremy (Jessica), Diane; and 18 great grandkids; sister-in-law Vicki Dunn (Mike); many nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews – all holding a special place in her heart.

Meeting her in Heaven are her husband Joe, her parents, her sister and brother, her son Jeff, sons-in-law John Baker and Rick Hervey, and her grandson Tyler Winkelman.

Memorials may be directed to Revive Church Building Fund. Love ya Mom!

The family thanks EveryStep Hospice for their help in the last week of Mom’s stay here on Earth.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Revive Church of Des Moines. Family will greet friends one hour prior beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be held in the Chapel Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Revive Church Building Fund in memory of Wilma. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at caldwellparrish.com.