Edward and Hulda (Dubbe) Kerkow announced the birth of their beautiful daughter, Doris Bertha. On September 24, 1927, she was born on the family farm in St. Lawrence Township. The younger of the two girls, Doris attended a one room school house in St Lawrence. As a child, she loved spending countless hours playing with her cousins.
A cheerleader for the Jordan High School, Doris later graduated in 1945. For one year, she attended Gustavus College and then went to Minneapolis to work. Doris lived in an apartment near Lake and Hennepin with some girl friends.
In 1942, Doris met a young man named, James Heinisch at Uncle Otto’s Broadway Eat Shop. Jim, however, went off to serve in the United States Navy and the romance began. About the time Jim came home from the military, they started dating. Soon, they were interested in getting married. Doris and James William Heinisch exchanged wedding vows on November 1, 1947 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jordan, MN. A reception was held at the farm, with a clean house, where they ate dinner in the basement and had danced the night away. They were blessed with three beautiful girls, Elaine and twin girls, Norma and Nancy.
During Doris’ working years, she cooked at the Jordan school district and for 19 years was a custodian for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. A past member of the Scott County Home Extension, Doris was an active member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and the Christian Fellowship. A dedicated woman of faith, she also taught Sunday school for over 20 years and enjoyed bible study.
In her spare time, Doris enjoyed spending time gardening, loved being outside, going to the farm and pulling weeds or cleaning brush. Her biggest passion in life was her church and family. Doris relished the memories created with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
At the age of 84 and a resident of Jordan, Doris passed away surrounded by her family in the late afternoon of November 2, 2011 at St. Gertrude’s Nursing Home in Shakopee, MN.
Forever loved, Doris will be deeply missed by children, Elaine (Wayne) Gerdes of Elk River, Norma (Dave) Bendzick of Jordan, Nancy (Ron) Goss of Jordan; grandchildren, Tim (Susie) Bendzick, Jenny (Travis) Johnson, Sara (Ryan) Metko, Ryan (Leah) Goss; great-grandchildren, Austin and Sidney Bendzick, Ella, Adam and Isabel Johnson, Nathan and Nora Metko, Nolan Goss: sister, Lois Wolfram of Jordan; many other loving relatives and devoted friends. Doris is preceded in death by her husband, Jim and her parents.
Pallbearers of Doris will be Tim Bendzick, Ryan Goss, Ryan Metko, Travis Johnson, Mark Wolfram, John Wolfram and Paul Wolfram.
The visitation will be on Monday, November 7, from 4-7 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home 104 West First Street, Jordan and also one hour prior to the service at church. The Celebration of Life Service will be on Tuesday, November 8 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church 100 Sixth Street West, Jordan. Doris will be laid to rest next to her husband, Jim, at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan, MN.
Memorials preferred and will be distributed in Doris’ memory by the family.
