Anna Sophia Heeren

Anna Sophia Heeren was born to Jason and Summer Heeren in Cherokee, Iowa on January 2, 2007. She attended Aurelia Elementary School through 2nd grade. The family moved to Grimes, Iowa in 2015, and she attended Dallas Center-Grimes schools into her freshman year.

Anna was active in Sunday school, youth group and church choir at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Grimes. Her faith was always strong and unwavering; she wanted to attend church even after she was no longer able to walk or talk. She played piano, clarinet in the band, choir, softball, soccer, and cross country. Anna loved school. This love began as an infant when she would accompany her Dad to his band room in her stroller and later to the football fields as he directed the marching band. Anna was a social butterfly that delighted in the attention of the high schoolers who adopted her as their little sister. She was very creative and always used her imagination. Anna also loved hanging out with friends and having sleep-overs.

Some of her favorite things were her dog - Kinnick, animals of all kinds - especially cute fluffy ones, and had a soft spot for any critter in need of love and attention. She enjoyed watching and making TikToks, being outside, crafts of any kind, making slime in her grade school years, card and board games, and babysitting. When it came to food, Anna was a foodie. She devoured her Grandma’s potato salad, Papa's pancakes, ice cream and her own baking creations. She shared her kindness with everyone she met, but had a special place in her heart for little kids - always a little "mother,” caring and doting on her young cousins and brother. It was that kind and caring spirit that made everyone fall in love with her.

Anna was always her own person - never really caring about what others thought. Her Mayo doctors commented regularly on her amazing outlook and spirit. She never complained, and took everything in stride. She was thankful for everyone and everything - even after she couldn't talk, she would tell her family, caregivers, and friends "thank you" with sign language (for even the smallest things - her meals, baths, foot massages, or just someone visiting her). Anna had a beautiful smile and an adorable smirk; although at times it accompanied her well-known eye roll or her raised eyebrow. She had a great sense of humor and could make even a cloudy day bright. She was our sunshine.

Anna was diagnosed with bilateral thalamic glioma brain tumors in September 2020, which later progressed into her brain stem. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments at Mayo in Rochester, MN and Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines until March 2022. After her courageous fight, Anna went peacefully to be with the Lord on the beautiful spring morning of May 7, 2022 at 9:14 a.m., surrounded by family at home.

Anna was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Harlan and Juanita Hinkeldey, John and Geneva Martin, Max and Carolyn Whitlock, and Harold Heeren; step great-grandfathers, Stewart Gustafson and Ted Faux.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother, Rylan Heeren; mother, Summer Heeren; father, Jason Heeren (Rachel Henigan); Emily and Autumn Henigan; grandparents, Dave and Janeen Hinkeldey of Aurelia, and Richard and Julie Heeren of Stanhope; aunts and uncles, Amber Hinkeldey of Grimes, Jen (Travis) Arnold of Stanhope, and Aaron (Nicole) Hinkeldey of Aurelia; cousins, Henry and Hayden Arnold, and Harlan, Davis and Elleanor Hinkeldey; great-grandparents, Carolyn Faux of Littleton, CO, and Sharon Heeren of Stanhope; best friends, Ella Christensen of Grimes, and Amy Stanton of Boone; and many extended family and friends.

Services will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1001 S. James St. in Grimes, IA with visitation on Thursday, May 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. and the funeral service on Friday, May 13 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Jewell, IA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the family to establish a foundation in Anna’s honor. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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