Heidemarie Boettcher

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- Heidemarie Christa Schulz-Netzer Boettcher, 75, of Altenburg died Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at her home surrounded by family.

She was born Sept. 24, 1941, in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, East Germany, to Karl and Lucy Degenhardt Schulz-Netzer. She and Albert Boettcher Jr. were married May 18, 1963. He survives in Frohna, Missouri.

Heidi spent her childhood and school-aged years attending an agricultural school and then the sports school in Leipzig, where she trained alongside East German Olympians. At the age of 18, she defected from Russian-occupied East Germany, spent a year in West Germany, then came to America under the sponsorship of relatives of the Degenhardt family from Wittenberg, Missouri. After Junior and Heidi married, they raised 11 children on their picturesque farm just outside of Altenburg. "After all these wonderful years, she made me a richer man and blessed me with these 11 children," Junior reflected shortly after she passed.

Heidi was an active member at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. She loved children and after raising her own, Heidi opened a day care and became caretaker to many of the local children who still remember her fondly. She was an avid vegetable and flower gardener and found delight in creating and maintaining the landscaping around her home. Her family enjoyed her many jellies, jams, canned vegetables and variety of baked goods. She also was an accomplished knitter and made hundreds of original sweaters, vests, cardigans, scarves, hats and blankets for her children, grandchildren and the children she cared for.

She is survived by her husband, Albert "Junior" Boettcher; brother, Hans (Karin) Schulz-Netzer of Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany; daughters and sons, Barbara (Gary) Bierman of Chester, Illinois, Timothy (Kari) Boettcher of Altenburg, Deborah (Gary) Brees of Jacob, Illinois, Jo Boettcher (spinster) of Cape Girardeau, Andrew Boettcher of Altenburg, Elizabeth (Brad) Moore of Huntersville, North Carolina, Maria Bartoe of Altenburg, Rebecca Boettcher of Alaska, Ruth (Derek) Kennedy of McCall, Idaho, Sara (Philip) Wallace of Wappapello, Missouri, and Stephanie Boettcher of Altenburg; 27 grandchildren, Clifton, Rachel, Jamie, Josh and Jenna Bierman, Jennifer and Recena Boettcher, Alecia and Levi Darnstaedt, Eddie and Michael Brees, Travis Boettcher, Cole and Eli Moore, Krystal, Anthony, ChyAnne and Lucous Bartoe, Iris Jones, Alex, Dominic and Julianne Kennedy, Daniel, Naomi and David Wallace, Marcus Boettcher and Elizabeth Roth-Boettcher; and three great-grandchildren, Bailey Morrison, Cadence Hawl and Nolan Boettcher.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Matthew Bierman.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 6:30 a.m. until service time Monday at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, and will be officiated by the Rev. Rod Benkendorf.

Memorials are preferred to Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna.

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

Young and Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Perryville, Missouri, provided the arrangements.