Viola “Shortie” Heitz, 87, of St. Anthony

Viola “Shortie” Heitz, 87, of St. Anthony, passed away at 10:34 a.m. on Sunday, February 7, 2016, at Northwood Retirement Community in Jasper.

Viola was born in Jasper, IN on March 16, 1928, to Leo and Bertha (Rickelman) Kunkler. She married William Russel Heitz on June 27, 1953, in St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Viola retired at the age of 75 from the linen department at Memorial Hospital in Jasper, where she had worked for over 25 years.  She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. She enjoyed cooking, cleaning, and going to basketball games.

She is survived by her husband, Russ Heitz of St. Anthony; one daughter, Tonya Wilgus and her husband Rick of Evansville; two grandchildren, Trace Wilgus and wife Abby of Austin, Tex. and Trev Wilgus of Dallas, Tex.; one great-granddaughter, Nora Jo Wilgus; one sister, Bernice Deffendoll of Jasper.

Preceding her in death one sister, Esther Schnell Barnett, and one brother, Leroy Kunkler.

Funeral services for Viola “Shortie” Heitz will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper and one hour before services at the church on Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northwood Retirement Community or St. Anthony Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.