Sue Heimburger

Sue Ann (Althaus) Heimburger, 83, of Bonne Terre, died just after midnight on October 2, 2025. She had been battling poor health for three years and elected to begin hospice September 24.

Sue was born in Mendota, Illinois, to Beryl and Shirley (Fassig) Althaus in June 1942. In her late teens, she met her husband, Robert “Bob” Heimburger, who traveled summers from St. Louis to work in Mendota at Cal-Pak. They met while processing peas and corn at the Del Monte plant during their high school summers. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in Normal-Bloomington. They married in June 1964 and had two daughters, Jennifer Heimburger and Sarah (Heimburger) Haas.

The family moved from St. Louis to Bonne Terre in 1973. Sue began teaching at Bonne Terre Elementary in 1977. She achieved a master’s degree in education from Webster University.

Sue was a lover of books and magazines, museums, classical music, dance, fine arts, gardening (especially dahlias), and was an avid European traveler. Her faith in God and in Jesus as her savior was rock solid. She was generous with kind words, smiles, greeting cards, charitable donations, and bouquets and vegetables from her garden.

During her life, she was a member of Missouri MSTA, Missouri Retired Teachers Association, her beloved book club, and 25 Gardeners.

Retired from teaching fourth grade at Bonne Terre Elementary in 1998, Sue was a devoted member and officer of Mineral Area Council on the Arts, being a key supporter of the annual K-12 art show and the annual downtown banner project that brightened up several cities’ streets with local children’s art work. She also took an active role in Heimburger Construction Inc., which her husband started in 1978.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Adrienne (Althaus) Carnahan; and a baby brother, David. She is survived by her husband, Bob Heimburger; her daughter, Jennifer Heimburger (special friend Chris Manche); her daughter, Sarah (Heimburger) Haas (husband Mike); her brother, Richard “Skip” Althaus (wife Leslie); her sister, Joan (Althaus) Harris (husband Fred); her brother-in-law to her late sister, Kent Carnahan; her brother-in-law Paul Heimburger (wife Judy); her cousins Jeff and David Buhrmann; and her dear friend, Mary Mack.

Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, a grandson Andrew Rohne (wife Mariah), and many beloved friends and extended family members, all of whom were the frequent recipients of her thoughtful cards and gifts to celebrate their milestones.

A memorial visitation will be held at Cozean Memorial Chapel in Farmington on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 2:00 p.m. officiated by Pastor David Schmitt. Memorial donations may be sent to Help the Hungry, Habitat for Humanity of St. Francois County, Shared Blessings, CASA of the Parkland, or Mineral Area Council on the Arts. View the video tribute and share your memories and condolences at cozeanfuneralhome.com.