Heather Dawn Wipperman
May 22, 1975 – August 23, 2024
Surrounded by loved ones, Heather Wipperman left this world on Friday, August 23rd, 2024. Those who knew, loved and were touched by her will eagerly tell you she was the kindest, most courageous person they’ve ever known. Throughout her life, no one better exemplified the virtues of strength, compassion, faith, courage and selflessness she shared with all those close to her. A devoted mother, wife, sister and daughter, Heather was also a passionate para-professional at Prairie Star Elementary and teacher to children with special needs. Her selfless focus and caring in each of these roles to those she so deeply loved stands as her greatest and lasting achievement.
Beyond the people that came first in her life, Heather relished in life’s simplest pleasures. An excellent singer, she loved music and the arts. She also found joy in the simplicity of a walk and the opportunity to bask in the beauty of nature. Most importantly, however, Heather’s greatest joy came from time spent with family. Especially time with her husband Jeff and their three children. She loved what they loved and was happiest seeing them learn and grow while pursuing their passions, whether it be baseball for Dylan, horseback riding for Anna or cheer for Katie. Their joy were her joys.
Perhaps Heather’s greatest gift to us was the extraordinary courage and kindness she showed in the face of life’s harshest challenges. Her battle with cancer these past three and a half years provided a constant example of true courage, resilience and selflessness. Her smile in her last days, in her darkest hour of suffering, was the most beautiful, and fitting, expression of who she was and her selfless giving to others. For Heather, these are not merely words of tribute, but a helplessly inadequate attempt to describe the gifts that she shared with us. Her generosity of spirit leaves each of us with a debt we can only strive to repay as we attempt to live by her example.
Heather was an extraordinary person. Her loss leaves a space our hearts will never refill. She loved, as a verb. She generously and bravely gave of herself, every day. For this she will remain with us forever.
