Phyllis Ann Heermann, age 91 of Emma, MO, passed away on January 24, 2025.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 31, 2025, at St. John United Church of Christ in Emma with Rev. Timothy Biesemeyer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2025, at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Concordia. Memorials are suggested to St. John United Church of Christ or St. John Cemetery Association and an online guestbook is available at https://www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born April 2, 1933, in Sweet Springs, MO, Phyllis was the daughter of Walter and Mabel (Wehrs) Dittmer. She lived in the Emma area her entire life and was a 1950 graduate of Sweet Springs High School. On February 7, 1953, she married Ralph E. Heermann who preceded her in death on June 13, 2011. Together Phyllis and Ralph lived happily raising their family at their home in Emma. Phyllis was a dedicated lifelong member of St. John United Church of Christ. She was baptized at St. John on April 23, 1933, and then confirmed there on April 14, 1946. Phyllis was very active at St. John by serving on many boards and committees and singing in the church choir. She also taught Sunday School and was in charge of the children’s Christmas Eve program for many years. Her church provided the foundation for her life which she passed along to her children.
Phyllis loved spending time with her family no matter the reason. Holidays at the Heermann home were very important to her and everyone was welcomed. She took great pleasure watching her growing family gather together to share food, fun and family stories. The house was always crowded which was part of the fun but the love shared by all was a special joy for her. Phyllis was also quite a prankster. She very much enjoyed pulling April Fool’s pranks on Ralph, her children and grandchildren. Her jokes and pranks were not reserved for family as she would enjoy trying to pull one over on just about everyone she knew.
Phyllis was also a constant presence at her children’s school and college activities as they were involved in many different sports and educational events. She was an avid golfer and won many awards at Tri-City Country Club. She loved watching the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs and Mizzou Tigers. Phyllis enjoyed writing poetry, notes to family and friends, sewing, and playing cards with family or friends at the Senior Center in Concordia. Phyllis was a wonderful example to her family and showed them how to live a life full of gratitude and integrity. She will be missed by all but her family will especially miss her presence in their lives.
In addition to her husband Ralph, Phyllis was preceded in death by her eldest son, Kim Heermann and her great-grandson, Ace Finley. She is survived by her son, Jon Heermann (Donna) of Independence, MO; son Lyn Heermann (Diane) of Grain Valley, MO; son Tod Heermann (Vicki) of Oak Grove, MO; daughter, Risa Bushman (Greg) of Concordia, MO; son, Jay Heermann (Alisa) of Kansas City, MO; and daughter-in-law Patty Heermann of Plainfield, IN. Ralph and Phyllis’s grandchildren are: Erica Riley (Douglas), Danyelle Stokes (Ryan), Richie McCullough (Katie), Brandon Scott (Hatti), Tyler Scott (Gwen), Katlyn Sherrer (Roger), Kylie Kahle (Austin), Kathleen Jekel (Cullen), Lauren Cano (Wes), Anna Scott (Justin), Leah Finley (Matt), Daniel Bushman and Jovie Heermann.
They also have 17 great grandchildren.
Phyllis is also survived by her siblings: Janice Hoefer (Max), Mary Nierman (Paul), David Dittmer (Jesse) and John Michael Dittmer (Kay); as well as sister-in-law, Cheryl Dittmer. Siblings preceding her in death include Willard Dittmer, Joe Dittmer, Donald Dittmer and Charles Dittmer, as well as two who died in infancy.