| IRMA M. VAN HECKE |
| Mrs. Irma M. Van Hecke, 94, of Good Samaritan Home, formerly of 513 Hampshire, died at 2:55 p.m. Monday (October
1, 2001) in the home. Born March 4, 1907, in Quincy, Irma was the daughter of Charles and Emma Heitholt Loos. She married Paul Bradford Van Hecke on August 6, 1938 in Quincy. He died October 27, 1983. Irma received her education in Quincy Schools and Gem City Business College, where she worked briefly. The Superintendent of Schools sought her to be his secretary and she obliged for 13 years in that office where she served under four different officials; she subsequently resigned as required after she married Paul B. Van Hecke. In spite of that requirement, the fourth and newly elected Superintendent asked Irma to remain a year to help him become oriented. When objections were raised because of Irma's marital status, Dr. Evans said if anyone could find a secretary with Irma's skills, he'd dismiss her. No more was said. Mr. Van Hecke, a Moorman employee, was transferred to Marshall Mo., where word of Irma's office skills reached the Superintendent of Schools. She was asked to substitute for his secretary who was ill; the 'fill-in' lasted for 19 years. On July 18, 1959, at the annual convention of the National Association of Educational Secretaries, Irma received a certificate in recognition of merit and achievement in her profession; she was one of only six secretaries in Missouri to receive a certificate in the Professional Standards Program of the NAES, a department of the National Education Association. She was commended for awareness and interest in problems in the education field and for support of her professional associates. She was president-elect and president from 1963-64, during which time she met with representatives from seven states. As President it was her honor to represent the Missouri Association at the National Convention in Seattle, Washington and to preside at the brunch hosted by Missouri at the South Central Regional Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Irma authored articles for the monthly paper; served on the executive board for fifteen years; introduced the speakers to an audience of one thousand attendees when presiding over her first workshop. She wrote, "Guidelines on Responsibilities of Educational Secretaries to Students, Administration, Board, Community and Self." After retiring, she kept books, per his request, for a former coach in his sports-machine business. She retired at 75 years of age. Irma never had to look for a job; employers sought her. She underwent successful cancer surgery after experiencing abdominal pain which she endured while playing golf and holding her side between swings. Before Mr. Van Hecke's death in 1983, they traveled to China and Nepal, and as passengers on the Royal Nepal Airlines, took part in a "Mountain Flight" to Mt. Everest. Surviving is one son, Bradford Keith Van Hecke of Quincy; and one daughter, Sandra Sue Mitchell of Greensboro, NC. Mrs. Van Hecke was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her stepmother Anna Fredrika Schmidt; two brothers, Delbert and Raymond Loos; and four sisters, Thelma Sallstrom, Lela DeKoning, Virginia Myers, and Mildred Zolle. Private family graveside services were conducted Wednesday morning at 10:00 in Greenmount Cemetery by the Rev. Robert Jallas. Memorials may be made to the Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ Heritage Fund. |