Linda Louise Heinicke's Obituary
Linda Louise Grotpeter Heinicke (nee Rixmann) launched into the strange Untried November 18th, 2023, following a brief illness.
She leaves in the wake of her departure three daughters; Jennifer Grotpeter, Carol Colter, and Sally Sullivan (Stuart), six grandchildren; Jessica Smith (Troy), Jacob Sullivan (Brooke), Joe Colter, Joshua Sullivan, Lillian James, and Clara James, and one great-grandson, Hank Smith.
Linda had deep roots in the Kirkwood-Webster demesne. After graduating Kirkwood High in 1953, she did not sail off to college, but rather became a life-long self-taught student of nature, art, philosophy, literature, theology, history, finance, and horticulture. She read voraciously and diversely, and journaled copiously, noting her experiences, thoughts, and dreams, all in perfect cursive. She was independent, determined, and hard working. She was employed by the same Webster Groves psychology practice from about 1972 until a few weeks before her death. When she wanted wallpaper, she learned to hang it correctly herself. She needed curtains, so she crocheted them, for almost every window in the house. She taught herself to paint in watercolor, as well. Her grandson once said "Deba (what all the grandkids called her) likes rusty things" and indeed she did. If something could be cleaned up and put to reuse, she did it. From rain barrels to a garden rake refashioned into a coat rack, she lived Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. She meticulously raised native plants in her yard, making it a haven for bees, birds, and butterflies. She meditated and prayed. She loved water, and even more so the sun, shining down on her tubing behind a ski boat at the lake, paddling a canoe on a float trip, covered in Coppertone at the pool, or just soaking up rays in her backyard hammock. When bleak storm clouds came, however, Linda guided her family with grace, calm, and patience, through all the rough waters, until the sun came back out.
For many years, an image of ships hung on Linda's wall, and it included a poem excerpt reading "One ship sails east, and another west, by the self-same winds that blow, 'Tis the set of the sails and not the gales, that determines the way they go." It summed up her personal philosophy pretty well, but the captain has now departed her vessel to explore the immense Remote, leaving her crew unmoored, becalmed in unknown waters, and preparing their own, new, journey without her.
Please join the family for an open house to celebrate Linda's life December 2nd, 2023, 11am to 1pm, at 139 Peeke Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri 63122.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged at Channel 9 PBS Nine PBS, Nature Conservancy Donate and Become a Member | The Nature Conservancy , or Global Elephant Sanctuary Ways to Support - Global Sanctuary for Elephants (globalelephants.org)
Aquamation servoces by Hughes Funeral Alternatives in St. Louis, Missouri. Friends and family can sign an online guestbook at www.HughesFuneralAlternatives.com
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