Heidemarie Erika Monroe February 09, 1942 – March 09, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Services for Heidemarie Erika Monroe will be held at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home (located at 1502 NW Fort Sill Blvd. , Lawton, OK) on Friday, March 15th at 10:00 a.m. to be followed by a graveside prayer service at the Post Cemetery, located on Fort Sill where Heide will be laid to rest with her husband. Services will be officiated by Rev.
Mark Henslee, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lawton. Heidemarie Erika Monroe passed away peacefully at her home on March 9, 2019 at 9:25 p.m. due to brief illness. Her family said that even though she was able to beat one of the toughest lung cancers the chemotherapy and radiation treatments wore her body down so much that when she became ill she just didn’t have any strength left in her to fight.
Heide was born in Munich, Germany on February 9, 1942, to Maria (Ploetz). She married Clifford on November 10, 1959. Heide was a proud Army wife and even though she had to endure a lot during his time away from the family she supported him and faithfully stood by his side during his entire 30 years in the service.
She had to be both mother and father every time he was gone, but the hardest times were when he was in Vietnam and Korea. As a military wife moving was inevitable. During her husband’s career Heide (and the family) lived at several different military bases in Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Germany and his final duty station was here at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where they retired.
She was preceded in death by her mother Maria Luebben, step-father Hinrich Luebben, husband Clifford Monroe, daughter, Marilyn Monroe-Brewer, sisters, Herta Cussler, Ingeborg Merin (Roman), Pia Griesbauer (Toni), Maria Reitberger (Toni), Winnie Preitauer (Gerry) and Rosemarie Engelhard, and brothers, Adolf Engelhard, Kurt Engelhard, Horst Engelhard, Manfred Engelhard and Peter. She is also preceded in death by her beloved pets; her dogs Tiger, Buck, Candy, Rascal, Ginger, Gigi and Twisty; her birds Hanze, Dodo and Fifi; and her cat Snoopy and her Coy fish. Heide is survived by her son Clifford Monroe, daughter Shirley Loden (Jim), granddaughters Deborah Chambers (Brian Hampton), April Long, Crystal Underwood (Jason), grandson Jason Brewer (Meghann), great-grandsons Caden Long, Caleb Long, Jadon Underwood, Camren Underwood, sister Brigitte Plechinger (Walter), sisters-in-law Karola Engelhard, Anita Engelhard, Ellen Engelhard, Helga Engelhard, brother-in-law Willi Cussler and numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved dog Sissy.
Heide has had numerous accomplishments throughout her life but here are a few that stood out to her family. When Heide arrived in the U.S. she spoke just enough English to get by, but could not read or write in English. So between children’s books, comic books, watching TV and listening to people she basically taught herself how to speak, read and write the English language.
Next, the passing of her citizenship exam with only missing 2 questions, most college students couldn’t do that (and still can’t). Then in 1977 she got a job at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Lawton, Oklahoma and within a year she was promoted to Quality Control. After she was promoted she was sent to Atlanta, Georgia to attend a six-week training class and once again surpassed others in her class, she was in the top 5.
This is just a small portion of her accomplishments, her family said they are proud of each and every one. Heide had such a big heart, she made friends easily and everyone loved her – her smile would just light up a room. She was the happiest when surrounded by family, friends and her pets.
Even though she loved celebrating all holidays, Christmas was her favorite time of year. Her house would be beautifully decorated, which included 30 plus angels and over a dozen Santa’s. There would be so many gifts she would run out of room in the living room and have to place them in the hallway.
She also had a real love for dancing, she absolutely loved getting together with all of her dear friends on a regular basis at the VFW. They would enjoy each other’s company and dance the night away. She was also a member of a square dancing team for a long time until the team dissolved.
During the spring she enjoyed the outdoors working on her yard and flower beds, she took so much pride in it, on many occasions neighbors would stop and ask her the name of the landscape company she uses, she would tell them Heide’s Landscape. Heide was also an avid animal lover. Over the years she found many stray animals and took them home until she was able to either find their lost owners or until she was able to find a loving home for them (which was usually hers).
At one time or another, she has had dog(s), a cat, birds and even coy fish. She spoiled each and every animal down to the core – yes even the fish she would feed them by hand. She also loved to cook and bake.
Heide was very well known for her mouth-watering cheese-cake. This is not your ordinary cheese-cake this is the kind you dream about in your sleep.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
