Heeke takes over longtime jewelry business

With nary a skip in beat as ownership changed hands, an 80-plus-year-old business in Jasper will continue to serve the community’s jewelry needs.

When Bob and Jacque Disinger announced their retirement in November, the couple mentioned someone was interested in taking over ownership. This week, Teresa Heeke announced she will continue the store’s long tradition in the community as the new owner.

“I am so excited to carry on the Disinger tradition of integrity, quality, and incredible customer service to our local community,” Teresa said. 

Teresa has close ties to the Disinger family and the jewelry store. The Jasper resident has long considered the Disingers close friends and mentors. She worked at Disinger Jewelers when she was in high school and college. Even her daughter, Cassie, worked at the store for about five years.

“I believe the jewelry business is the perfect fit for me. I’ve always loved jewelry, and have many fond memories of playing in my mom and grandma’s jewelry boxes, trying on all their treasures,” she said. “When I worked at Disinger Jewelers in high school, it never felt like a job. I’ve always loved helping customers find the perfect gifts for their loved ones.”

Teresa loves to help customers celebrate those special moments in their lives like birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements.

“But what I love most of all, is when the recipient of the gift comes in to tell us how much they love that piece of jewelry and how much it meant to them,” she said. “Our customers are like family, and I love playing a small part in those special moments of their lives.”

Under Teresa’s ownership, Disinger Jewelers will keep its name and continue to operate both its freestanding location on Newton Street in Jasper and its shop in the French Lick Hotel. The store will have the same two talented goldsmiths and carry many of the same brands. However, it will also feature new lines of jewelry and an expanded custom jewelry design service. 

“We will still have everything that makes Disinger Jewelers a trusted source of jewelry and a strong local business, with some added options for our customers who wish to create something unique and personalized,” Teresa said. 

In continuing the former owners’ tradition of community involvement and philanthropy, the store will donate a percentage of profits to a different charity each month. It will also continue to sponsor local organizations and events.

“I’m very passionate about giving back to my community,” Teresa explained. “This is the perfect opportunity to carry on the tradition of Disinger Jewelers and to give back to some amazing organizations. I started a new program to donate a portion of the proceeds of every sale to a different charity each month.”

In January, Disinger Jewelers is supporting Habitat for Humanity of Dubois County.

Teresa grew up in Jasper and graduated from Jasper High School. She has a degree in business management. She spent twenty years in the corporate world gaining experience in sales, marketing, training, accounting, and human resources. 

In 2014 she went back to school to obtain her PHR (Professional in Human Resources) Certification. She is now an Accredited Jewelry Professional through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). She has two children: Cassie, an attorney in Indianapolis, and Cameron, an engineering student at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. 

“Teresa has proven to be of the utmost integrity and will make an excellent business owner. She has our full trust in carrying on the business and the traditions of Disinger Jewelers,” Said Bob and Jacque Disinger. “We ask our wonderful customers to continue to trust and support Teresa and the talented staff at Disinger Jewelers.”