Erna Marie Heinkel-Southwell's Obituary
Erna Marie Southwell went to be with the Lord at the age of 99 in Auburn, Washington, in the home of her daughter, where she enjoyed the last years of her remarkably long life.
The sixth of eight siblings, she was born on May 22, 1916 in Decatur, Illinois, to Marie and Albert Heinkel. She graduated from Decatur Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and, in her twenties, moved to California with three friends to work as a hospital nurse. She briefly returned to Illinois and then moved with her sister, Juanita Obermeyer, to Washington to further her education in public health.
While in Washington, she and her sister proudly served as nurses in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war, she met her husband, Harold Southwell, and they moved to Anaheim, California, in 1957, where Kathy was born and where Erna worked for over 40 years as a school nurse. She made semi-annual trips by train and car to Illinois to visit her family. In 1998, she moved to Washington to work on her beautiful view property and to be closer to her daughter and family.
She found great fulfillment in her work as a nurse and maintained her nursing license until the age of 93. She enjoyed gardening and remodeling. One of her greatest prides was her scenic property in Gig Harbor, Washington. Throughout her life, she was a hard worker and a devout Lutheran, a strong woman who dearly loved her family and the Lord.
She is survived by her brother, Erwin Heinkel, daughter, Kathy Holley, son-in-law, Russ Holley, granddaughters, Kristi and Rachel Holley, and many loving members of a large extended family. Her laughter and stories will long be remembered!
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