PHYLLIS J. HEINDSELMAN



Phyllis J. Heindselman, 82, of Quincy, formerly of LaGrange, Missouri, died January 20, 2018 in St. Charles, Missouri. 

Born April 3, 1935 in Quincy, Phyllis was the daughter of Matthew and Dorothy Cook Keller Sr.She married Russell Leon Heindselman on October 30, 1955 in Central Baptist Church in Quincy. He preceded her in death on August 8, 2016. 

Phyllis was a 1952 graduate of Quincy High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She started her career as a medical transcriptionist at P&S Clinic in Quincy while she was still in high school. She left her employment there to follow her husband in the Army to Texas. There she worked on base as an executive secretary. When they returned to Quincy, she went to work at Gardner-Denver as an executive secretary and then she returned to P&S Clinic to do medical transcription. She was employee of the month April 1990 at QP&S Clinic and she worked there for many years until her first retirement. After her retirement, she went to work for Fast Transcription in Quincy and later for PS Transcription in LaGrange. She retired a second time on her 80th birthday. 

 Phyllis was connected to her community through many activities. First and foremost was her devotion to her faith. She and her husband became members of First Baptist Church in LaGrange, MO, on their return from Texas after he was discharged from the military. She was Wyaconda Southern Baptist Association's clerk for many years. She was known for her love of vocal gospel music and shared her talents often at public events and at her church. In the 1960s and 1970s she was a member of a well-known women's quartet who traveled to churches in Northeast Missouri to share the gospel in music. She fulfilled many roles in her church including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, Acteen Director and Music Director. Perhaps her favorite was Nursery worker where she doted on the tiny tots. She most recently had worked in her church's food pantry and she also helped clean the church.

She and her family traveled in a converted school bus for a few summers to play bluegrass music with the Gillespie Family. She bowled on the Lipstick League at the Cotton Bowl in Canton for almost two decades where she won several year-end awards. She was a participant in the Illinois state bowling tournament in the 1970s and 1980s. She played volleyball at CYO leagues. She was a member of the Quincy Symphony Chorus and most recently Quincy Volunteer Voices. She was a member of American Association for Medical Transcription, Great River Chapter, where she served on the executive board.  She tutored grade school age children privately in her community and at the Lewis County School District.  She delivered Meals on Wheels for several years. She had recently joined the Methodist Women*s quilt group in LaGrange. Her greatest joy was her family. She had a remarkably close bond with her siblings. After her first retirement, she had a weekly lunch date with her siblings, Junior and his wife Ann, and Mary Lou. While Russell was off on his next adventure usually hunting, fishing, selling bait, inventing something or tending to his garden, she was in the background making sure everything at home had care. She never missed special events and she cherished the time she spent being a proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Survivors include her children, Gregory Allen Heindselman (Melinda) of LaGrange, Kelly Jeanne Fast (Roger) of Platte City , MO, and Matthew Pierce Heindselman (Dayna) of Washington, MO; six grandchildren, Kory Fast and Ian Fast (Kelly's children), Michael Heindselman (Jayla) and Zachary Heindselman (Shannon) (Greg's children), and Sheridan Heindselman and Emma Heindselman (Matt's children), a step grandchild, Tylor Kersten (Matt's); and a great grandchild, Simon Fast (Kory's); a sister, Mary Lou Reinebach of Quincy; two sisters in law, Anna "Ann" Keller of Quincy and Sue VanMeter (Ronald) of Garland, TX; and many loving nieces and nephews. 

 Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; her step father, Roy W. Gosney; a brother, Matthew W. Keller Jr.; and a brother in law, William "Bill" Reinebach. 

 Memorial services will be held Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in the First Baptist Church in LaGrange, Missouri with Pastor Mark Dickerson officiating. 

 Memorial visitation will be held Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until the time of services at First Baptist Church in LaGrange, Missouri. 

Private inurnment will be in Greenmount Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home in Quincy. 

Memorials may be made to the Missouri Baptist Childrens Home or to the First Baptist Church in LaGrange.