Obituary of Eric James Heitman

Eric James Heitman A Mass of Christian Burial for Eric James Heitman of Elsberry, MO will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Father Charles Tichacek, church pastor, will officiate with assistance from Rev. John Zellmer, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Rocky Lammert, Andy Burkemper, Bryan Collins, Bryan Hensley, Daniel Heitman and Kevin Hailey. Eric, 37, died early Thursday morning, October 9, 2014 the result of an accident at Heitman Farms near Elsberry. Born August 27, 1977 in Troy, MO, he was the son James Paul and Redonda Kay Beckemeier Heitman. A lifelong resident of Elsberry, he was a 1995 graduate of Elsberry High School and attended Missouri State College at West Plains. He was united in marriage on February 12, 2011 in Troy, MO to Sarah Elizabeth Smith. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Raised on the family farm, Eric was a cattleman as well as a grain farmer. Eric was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Cecil and Madeline Heitman and his maternal grandparents, Denzel and Helen Beckemeier. Survivors include his beloved wife, Sarah Heitman of Elsberry; and his parents, Jim and Redonda Heitman of Elsberry. He also leaves three sisters: Heather Kinsler and her husband, Charles, of Troy, Melinda Holland and her husband, Phil, of Troy, and Katie Tracy and her husband, Adam, of Chesterfield, MO; one brother, Adam Heitman and his wife, Jessica, of Winfield, MO; his parents-in-law, Greg and Debbie Smith of Elsberry; his brother-in-law, Joe Smith of Wentzville, MO; several aunts and uncles, many cousins, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, October 12, 2014 at Sacred Heart Church in Elsberry; and from 9:00 a.m. until time of the Mass on Monday, October 13, 2014 at Sacred Heart Church. Memorials may be made to the Will Holland Benefit in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.