CONTINENTAL – Jean Ann Heitzman, 71, of Continental, passed away at 5:56 p.m., March 2, 2025, at her residence surrounded by her family after her third battle with cancer. She was born on June 26, 1953, to Albert and Beatrice (Wahmhoff) Berelsman in Lima, Ohio. She was a 1971 graduate of Fort Jennings High School and a 1975 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Physical Education. On December 2, 1978, she married Daniel J. Heitzman and together they raised three children: Jennifer (Michael) Gasser of Fort Jennings, Derek (Joy) Heitzman of Cloverdale, and Keri (Wade Walters) Shaffer of Continental.
Jean was the epitome of “Faith, Family, and Farm”. She was very active in her faith and loved to share it with her family and friends. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Continental, and enjoyed attending Bible studies to deepen her faith with others in the community. A highlight of her faith was a trip with her sister Janet to the Holy Land to see the places she often read about. She loved her family, putting her husband’s, children’s, and grandchildren’s needs in front of her own. The grandchildren’s activities were the highest priority on her schedule. That meant going to multiple activities each day to make sure her grandchildren always had a fan in the stands. She loved the farm. Being a farmer’s wife for over 45+ years, there wasn’t much she couldn’t do on the farm. The farm is where she could find the most important things in her life, her faith and her family.
In addition to her husband and three children, she is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Bryce, Wyatt, and Loryn Gasser, Dane, Louisa, and Rosalie Heitzman, Mason and Jay Shaffer, and Peyton Walters; seven siblings: Janet (Michael) Freisthler of Sidney, Tony (Cindy) Berelsman of Fort Jennings, Sue Fike of Leipsic, Tom (Bev) Berelsman, Gary (Stacey) Berelsman, Diana (Dennis) Osting, and Jackie (Jerry) Siefker, all of Fort Jennings; and a sister-in-law, Deb (Jeff) Martin of Ottawa.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her second mother, Mabel Berelsman; a brother, Gerald Berelsman; two grandchildren: Nathan and Mallory Gasser; and two brothers-in-law: Craig Fike and Doug Heitzman.
Funeral Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Continental with Fr. Mark Hoying officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Jackson Township and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to Putnam County Homecare and Hospice or Continental Community Library.
Condolences may be expressed at www.lovefuneralhome.com
