Estella Mae Heidt

Estella M. Heidt, 95, of Bridgman, MI passed away Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Woodland Terrace Assisted Living in Bridgman. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Reverend Glenn Rosenbam officiating. Burial will take place at a later date at Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia, MI. Friends may visit Thursday, 11:00 am until 2:00 pm at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign Estella’s guestbook may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Estella was born May 17, 1918 in Hans Station, MI, now Taylor, MI to August & Mary (Wilkie) Schultz. She was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Ypsilanti, MI. On June 15, 1940 she married Arnold Heidt. Estella worked at Daisy Air Rifle and as a dime store clerk. Arnold was hospitalized for 17 months with tuberculosis. She then kept a busy schedule caring for her family and acting as the Sunday School Superintendent. Estella taught Sunday School, and was active in the cradle roll; providing care and visiting with families of newborns and young children. She then went on to manage a laundry and dry cleaning business for 20 years until she retired. She moved to St. Joseph in 1996 and became a member of Grace Lutheran Church where she was involved in the Ladies of Grace and OWLS groups. In her spare time she enjoyed embroidery work, cooking, growing flowers and playing cards. Estella was always there for her family and arranged a family gathering every year where she kept the large family of nieces and nephews together. She is survived by her daughter Sharon (Herman) Esch of St. Joseph, grandchildren Matthew (Tina) Esch of Portage, MI and Julie (Brian) Stegman of Bangor, MI, great grandchildren Michael, McKenzie, Mari, Colton and Braden and brother Melvin (Margaret) Schultz of Sunlakes, AZ and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 56 years Arnold Heidt on March 29, 1998, brothers Herbert Schultz, Elmer Schultz, Russel Schultz, Roy Schultz and sister Esther Balko.