Heike Ulrike Hasenauer

Heike (Dietrich) Hasenauer, 71, of Sunset Beach, NC, and formerly Columbia MD, passed away peacefully in her home under hospice care, on August 23, 2023, surrounded by family and loved ones. She is survived by her husband Richard of 47 years, daughter Heidl Hasenauer of Paonia CO; son Jason Hasenauer and family of Corona CA, and grandchildren Megan and Grant. She also is survived by her mother Herta Dietrich, brother Glenn Dietrich; and sister Angela (Dietrich) Farrar.

Born in Germany, she and her family emigrated when she was one. They lived in New Jersey for a time and then Pittsboro NC, where she graduated high school. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1973, where she met her husband in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1975. She served for 10 years as a military journalist in the Active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve. Later as a Department of Defense civilian, Heike was an award winning photojournalist who traveled the world covering the U.S. Army during the Cold War, Desert Storm, and the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. She served 20 years with Soldiers Magazine, the flagship U.S. Army magazine, as a reporter and senior editor.

Heike was a lover of nature, finding beauty everywhere — in her own backyard and in the many regions of the world she traveled and captured through her photography and feature articles. She was an adventurer, always ready to explore new places, meet new people and share their stories through her writings.

Above all, Heike adored her family and friends. She always put her family first, cherishing time together at holiday celebrations, poking around local thrift stores, game-playing around a table, and walking hand-in-hand along the beach with her devoted husband.

Heike’s memorial service will take place at White Funeral and Cremation Service, 3660 Express Drive, Shallotte on September 2 at 3:00PM.

She requests that donations in her memory be sent to the American Cancer Society.

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel