Mary Louise Heilbrun

Mary Louise Heilbrun, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Sidney on Feb. 5, 2016, at the age of 81. Cremation has taken place. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC of Sidney is in charge of Mary's care and arrangements. You may view Mary's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com. Cards of condolence may be sent to the family at 1919 10th Avenue, Sidney, NE 69162.

Mary was born on June 17, 1934 in Scottsbluff to Rachel and Manuel Schick. She was one of 11 children. Surviving siblings are brothers Manuel Jr., David (Linda), and Edward Schick, sisters Judy Knotts, Ruth (Dan) Hamburg, and Rachel Powers. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Fred and William, sisters Lydia, Rose and Patricia, and grandson Jonathan Heilbrun.

Mary was raised on a farm near Scottsbluff where she and her siblings attended school. It was here that she met the love of her life, Harvey Heilbrun. They were operetta partners in "The Mikado" when they caught each other's eye. On Nov. 8, 1952 they married and continued to make beautiful music for the next 63 years.

Mary and Harvey were blessed with six children Rod (Luella) of Bassett, Christine (Mike) Sigg of Crook, Colo., Cindy Heilbrun (Ben) of Sidney, Diane Nielsen of Sidney, Doug (Angie) of Kansas City, and Cathy (Jim) Powell of Sidney. More blessings came their way with 12 grandchildren: Michael, Erin, Jonathan, & Megan Heilbrun, Matthew and Adam Haupt, Dean and Brandon Nielsen, Andrew and Joshua Heilbrun, and Corey and Sarah Ford, as well as 15 great-grandchildren.

Following their marriage they made their life in the Scottsbluff area farming and raising their quickly-growing family. In 1965 they moved to Potter, where they farmed and raised their six children for the next 15 years. They taught their children how to work hard and above all to put God first. In 1989 Mary and Harvey were forced to retire from farming life, due to Harvey's health, moving from Sunol to Sidney. It was at this time that Mary turned her love of children into a business, opening Grannie's Care-a-lot Day Care in their home at 1919 10th Avenue. Over the course of the next 18 years "Grandma Mary", as the children called her, provided love and guidance to 49 different children, all the way from infant to graduation. She still received Christmas cards and wedding announcements from her "children" as a reminder of the part she played in their lives.

Mary's battle with Alzheimer's over the past several years kept her close to home, but she always had children, grand-children and great-children stopping by to keep her company.

She will be greatly missed.