Raymond Arthur Heimann

Raymond “Ray” Arthur Heimann, lovingly known as “Bumpa”, 75 of Newton died on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. No services are scheduled at this time as Ray requested a celebration of life to be held when he was alive and able to enjoy with the ones, he cared for most. In April of 2022, Ray was able to celebrate his life with over 500 of his closest friends. Donations left at that celebration, or any other memorial contributions received will be used for the Jasper County Museum or to an animal rescue league of the donor’s choice.  Memorials may be left at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Ray, the son of Arthur and Julia (Kvasny) Heimann, was born on January 23, 1947 in San Mateo, California. As a young child, his family moved to Iowa and lived in Colfax and later in the Rock Creek area. Ray graduated from Grinnell High School in 1965 and then attended UNI. When at UNI, Ray met his one true love, Kim Leinen, through a blind date and the rest is history that led to 55 years and 11 days of marriage. Ray took pride in serving his country in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee during Vietnam.  After returning from the service, Ray worked at Howland Metal Spinning in Waterloo, before moving to Newton in 1974 to work in Research and Development at the Maytag Company. After Maytag’s closure, Ray continued to work and later would retire from Springboard in Newton.

If you were to ask Ray his greatest accomplishment, it would not have been his career. It was being a father and mostly a grandfather. Ray wasn’t just a father of two daughters and grandfather of two granddaughters, he was a son, brother, Bumpa, and friend to many. Ray knew no stranger and made everyone in his life feel special and at home. Everyone who knew Ray was touched by his kindness, positivity, and warped sense of humor.

Ray was a proud owner of a 1934 Street Rod for many years and was a member of many car clubs. He enjoyed taking the Street Rod to car shows all over the United States. Ray also loved to volunteer his time at the Jasper County Museum as a board member and a docent.  Ray also enjoyed tinkering and liked to find resourceful fixes and inventions to life’s challenges. Growing up cutting firewood, sparked a deep interest in chainsaws. Ray grew a collection of over 80 new and old chainsaws.

Even though cancer took him away from this world, his loving spirit lives on through his wife Kim Heimann of Newton; his daughters, Christine Heimann of Newton and Sara Van Maaren of Colfax; his granddaughters, Kayley and Ava Van Maaren; siblings, Jo Heimann of Manchester and Mark (Teri) Heimann of Dike; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Nancy Sayers; and brother, Ed Heimann.