Rosalie P. (Appelhans) Heier, 87, of Hoxie, KS, passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Sheridan County Long Term Care. She was born the eighth of ten children, in St. Peter, on August 20, 1936, to Joseph J. and Katherine (Richmeier) Appelhans. At the young age of 17, while at a wedding she met a handsome man, Jacob J. Heier, whom she married on May 3, 1954, in St. Peter. Jake and Rosie enjoyed going to dances, they were members of the Sunflower Polka Club which kept them busy on the weekends. They led many wedding marches for family and friends. She was a member of St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church and served on the sodality committee.
Rosie was an excellent cook and worked as a lunch lady for Hoxie school district. Losing her mother at 16, created a strong bond between her and her siblings. Throughout the years, they gathered and hosted their own birthday celebrations. It got loud around the table with their laughter while they played cards and wahoo. In her spare time, she grew an exceptional garden, canned, sewed and crocheted each one of her grandchildren an afghan blanket for their high school graduation and many doilies for gifts. Family was immensely important to Rosie, she made many memories with her grandchildren, allowing them to win at uno games, trouble, and dominos. Hoxie fair time was a highlight for Rosie because her family always found a way to get together. Jake and Rosie volunteered their time at the scrambler for many years. They always made sure their grandchildren had an extra-long ride.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jake; parents; infant children, Robert and Carol; sisters, Eleanor Dinkel, Mary Evers, Sister Gilberta Appelhans, Clara Dinkel, Louella Zerr; brothers, Alfred Appelhans, Edwin Appelhans, Kenneth Appelhans, and Ralph Appelhans; grandson Lane Vickers; and infant granddaughter.
Left to mourn her passing, son, Richard Heier and wife Glenda; daughter, Debra Vickers and husband Kelly, all of Hoxie, Norma LeHew, of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren, Aimee Vickers, Kelsi Bartlett (Adam), Jamie Hoyt (Chris), Trisha Hoover, Jordan Vickers (Erika), Andrew Hoover, Kara Scott (Bronson), and Corey Heier; great-grandchildren, Taelynn, Eislee and McKinley Scott, Lyla Vang, Grayson, Jovie, Emery and Julian Bartlett, Alexa Vickers, Kaitlin and Lennan Hoyt, Jameson Hoover; sisters-in-law; Darlene Appelhans and Doris Appelhans.
Visitation will be 2-6 p.m. Thursday, October 26, 2023, at Mickey Leopold Funeral Home with vigil and rosary at 6 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Friday, October 27, 2023, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church with Fr. Vincent Thu Laing. Burial will follow at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Sheridan County Amusement Company and sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740