HEASER, Gwendolyn A., age 94

Died: Monday, July 20th, 2015

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Minneiska, MN with The Reverend Father Richard Dernek officiating

Visitation: family will receive friends one hour prior to service at church

Interment: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery of both Gwen and Bill with military honors

Gwendolyn A. (Ward) Heaser, age 94, died peacefully on Monday, July 20, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at her home in Duluth, MN.

She was born on August 20, 1920 to the late Melvin and Gertrude (Gay) Ward in Mondovi, WI. In 1937, she moved to Minneiska, MN where she met the love of her life, William Heaser Jr. They were married on April 3, 1943 and from there they traveled the world.

According to her husband, Bill, she was a perfect Army officer's wife. She supported his military career through tremendous devotion to the military families under his command. She offered support during times of tragic loss as well as day to day living. She had a heart of gold taking care of all the military families and she did all this with a morale boosting smile.  

She served as President and Chief of the Ways & Means Committees for many military organizations. She equally respected Presidents, Emperors, Ambassadors, Congressmen, Generals as well as Sergeants, Privates and Civilian Laborers. She lived in 32 different homes in 7 different states as well as Tokyo, Japan, Germany and Canada. No matter how bad the condition of the house they moved into during those early years, she always made a beautiful home.

She enjoyed the military life style. She hosted parties for VIPs from all over the world and always did this with tremendous success. She enjoyed dancing, entertaining, traveling, home making, gardening, golf, playing bridge and other card games, and she loved long walks always holding hands with her husband wherever they hiked. She especially enjoyed the beautiful bluffs overlooking the mighty Mississippi River in Minneiska.

In 1975, she and Bill moved to Minneiska and to Duluth in 2006. They were blessed with 41 years of enjoyed retirement together.

Gwen was completely devoted to her family and was the perfect wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She never stopped giving and always put family and others first. She was loved and respected by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, William (Marilyn) Heaser of Minneiska, Susan (Dennis) Jensen of Duluth, and MAJ (Ret) Rich Heaser (Lavernne) of Jim Falls, WI; cherished grandchildren, Dawn (Jerry) Hacker, Donna (Rick) Stramer, MSG Kyle W. (Anene) Jensen, Kara (Solomon) Witherspoon, Kevin (Jamie) Jensen, MAJ Rick (Amber) Heaser, TSgt Robert (Noel) Heaser and Jack Heaser; 17 great-grandchildren; 6 great great-grandchildren; brother, Jim Ward; many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Gwen was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, COL William J. Heaser Jr.; 6 siblings; and great-grandson, Kaine Krieger.