Stella Reimers

Stella Reimers, 75, of Grand Island, died Friday, August 25, 2017, at CHI St. Francis Medical Center. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, August 30, 2017, at Litchfield Methodist Church in Litchfield, NE with Reverend Jim Koontz officiating. Burial will follow in the Litchfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Tuesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.



Stella Mae was born on December 4, 1941, on a farm near Litchfield, NE, to Hal and Rachel (Kelly) Lighthill. She was the youngest of 11 children. She was raised in Litchfield, and graduated in 1959. She later obtained a business degree from Central Community College.



On October 17, 1959, Stella married John Leo (Bud) Heil. They farmed in the Rockville, NE, area. To this union six children were born: Loraine, John Jr., Karla, Jeri Lyn, Jason, and Billynda Jo. Stella married Ronald Reimers on June 26, 1981, in Grand Island. She worked for So Fro Fabrics for 16 years until it closed, JoAnns Fabrics, and retired from CHI St. Francis Hospital in the housekeeping department.



Stella loved to sew and make quilts, and her favorites being rag quilts. Her hobbies included shopping for fabric to make quilts, collecting frogs, reading, and spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and their families.



Stella is survived by her husband: Ronald Reimers of Grand Island; children: Loraine (Richard) Panowicz, John Jr. (Linda) Heil all of Rockville, Karla (Monte) Stelk of Grand Island, Jason Heil of Loup City, Billynda (Ed) Spilinek of Elba; stepchildren Bryan Reimers of Grand Island, Karla Archuleta of CA; grandchildren: Christina Panowicz, Rebecca Panowicz, Lorissa (Bob) Auman, Mitchell Long, Liam Heil, Luke Heil, Jessica (Jeremy) Fanta, Samantha (Brady) Kayl, Sean Wysocki, Alexa Wysocki, Jacob, Joey, Logan, Serenity, and James Heil, Shelbea (Taylor) Gouldie, Chelsea Spilinek, and Thomas Spilinek; great grandchildren:Mackenzie Fanta, Hoyt and Hayes Auman, Dexter Gouldie, and soon to arrive baby girl Kayl. She is also survived by step grandchildren: Jamie Miller, Josh and Jeremy Cabe, Jamey, George, Alyssa, John, Alana, and Joey Archuleta; and four step great grandchildren; and former husband: John (Bud) Heil of Loup City, NE.



She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter: Jeri Lyn Heil; brothers: Dale, Richard, William, Jack, Don, LaVerne, and Paul; sisters: Betty Wichern, infant Mary, and infant baby girl Lighthill, and son-in-law: Robert Wysocki.