Impactful Opportunities With Athletes Foundation

Dennis Joseph Heiman, 74, of Grimes, passed away on May 15. Dennis was born on March 24, 1949 to Leon and Naureen Heiman in Buffalo Center, Iowa. After Dennis graduated from Buffalo Center High, He attended NIACC (Northern Iowa Area Community College) in Mason City on a basketball scholarship, and he went on to play football and study education at Western Illinois University. He loved coaching football, and often told stories about the Pittsfield Saukees, who while coaching set the high school record for longest winning streak in the state, and the six future NFL players he recruited and coached at Iowa Central Community College. In 1992 he graduated with his Master’s in Education Administration from Drake and became an Assistant Principal, later principal, at Muscatine High School. He was named Principal of the year by the School Administrators of Iowa and served as their president in 2002-2003. He later served as the principal at Mediapolis High School. Upon his retirement he continued in his passion for education and youth sports by working with Youth Sports Foundation, coaching football in several locations, substitute teaching and assisting student teachers through their last semesters at both University of Iowa and UNI. He met and fell in love with Lou (Smith) Heiman while in college and were married for 52 years. Dennis lit up a room and upon meeting a stranger left a friend. Dennis was predeceased by his parents, sister Judy and infant son. He is survived by his wife Lou, Daughters Naura (Ben) Godar and Jenny (Matt) Zimmerman and his five loving grandchildren Izzy, Olive, Ella, Franklin and Henry. He was loved and will be greatly missed by his siblings, Joyce, Ken, Debbie, Jim, Tom. A celebration of life held at Merle Hay Funeral Home at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to The IOWA Foundation , an organization aligned with his life’s mission to give back through youth sports and education. Impactful Opportunities With Athletes Foundation (The IOWA Foundation) partners with athletes to amplify their platform and give back to communities through youth sports, education and raising awareness for causes in the community.