on November 23, 2020.
Emma was born at home in Burke, South Dakota on July 1, 1928, to Samuel
and Mary Frey Bohnet. The Bohnet and Frey families were part of an ethnic group of
farmers known as Germans from Russia who emigrated between 1875 and 1915.
Their families arrived in 1901. Emma grew up speaking German at home, becoming
fluent in English when she entered school. She was third from youngest in a large
family. Emma was the last surviving member.
Emma attended a one-room schoolhouse in rural South Dakota. She graduated
Burke High School in 1946 and attended Dakota Wesleyan College. Emma began
her career in Education with teaching in one- room schools in South Dakota. She
was an instructional paraprofessional with Modesto City Schools for 18 years.
Emma married Wilmer Heermann on July 19, 1950 in Burke SD. They lived in South
Dakota and Nebraska before moving to California in 1957. Emmy and Wilmer were
a hard-working team throughout their 44 years of marriage.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wilmer, infant son James, her parents
and siblings. She was a dedicated and devoted mother to Debra Heermann, JoAnn
Sarhad, Anita Heermann, and Jeffrey Heermann. Emma was an adoring
grandmother to her grandson Henry, the light of her life. She was a caring mother
-in- law to John Piszczak, Robert Sarhad, and Jessica Hutchison.
Emma was famous for her pomegranate jelly and cooked up as many as 100 jars
each year for the Grace Lutheran Church Sewing Circle Bazaar. She was a confident
Scrabble player, a fine embroiderer, a devourer of chocolate, and a voracious
reader. Emma would surprise us with the great scope of her knowledge on a wide
range of subjects and could remember countless details about her life on her
family’s farm. This knowledge and ability contributed to many high-scoring rounds
of Jeopardy. She was delighted and enthralled with the many seasons of the San
Francisco Opera she was able to attend. Emma could always remember which
operas she’d seen, when, and which operas starred Placido Domingo.
Emma was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and had been a member
of Grace Lutheran Church in Modesto since 1957. This dedication to her faith
extended to the firm foundation she and Wilmer provided for their children. She
served as a Stephen’s Minister, was a former member of the Altar Guild, long
-serving secretary of Sewing Circle, and attended Bible classes for many years.
Her family will always remember her keen intelligence, memory for details, ability
to recite poetry, and inability to tell a joke without laughing before the punch line.
Her family would like to thank those of you who were part of Emma’s life, especially
her Grace Lutheran Church family, the Phase 10 gals, and her friends at the
Memorial Hospital exercise group. She valued the sense of belonging
and camaraderie she felt and treasured your friendship.
A private service has been held. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace
Lutheran Church Sewing Circle, 617 W. Orangeburg Ave, Modesto CA 95350.
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