Evonne Clairys Heinicke

October 2, 1939 – August 12, 2021

In the afternoon hours of August 12, 2021, Evonne Heinicke passed gracefully into heaven. She was born Evonne Clairys Olson on October 2, 1939 in Veblen, SD to Caroline and Emil Olson. She was the second of five children. Soon after, she and her family moved to Perry, Iowa, where she attended school through the tenth grade. The family then relocated to Washington State. She graduated from Highline High School in Burien, WA and began working at a bank. She met Karl Heinicke at Seattle’s Tip-Toppers Tall Club, and they married in August of 1962. Shortly afterwards, they moved to South Bend, WA, where Evonne and Karl raised two daughters. Evonne worked for the South Bend School District and for Pacific County in the Auditor’s Office. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in South Bend, as well as the Community Choir and Research Club. In addition, she served with both the Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity. In her retirement years, Evonne moved to Vancouver, WA where she was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, enjoyed dancing at Luepke Senior Center and participating in community life at Van Mall Retirement. She loved sewing, learning, reading, sporting events, new vocabulary words, crafts, helping others and whistling while she did the dishes. Above all, Evonne loved her family.

She was predeceased by her mother, father, brother (Gaylord “Gary”), and one sister (Shirley). She is survived by two sisters, Arlene and Lois, two daughters, Janine (Gregg Farah) and Kirsten (Matt Morrisey), many nieces and nephews and five grandchildren. Evonne will be laid to rest with her parents at Riverton Crest Cemetery in Tukwila, WA. At her request, she will be buried with a dessert fork because, “The best is yet to come.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org). A private celebration of life will be held in her honor.