Iva Zantha Heater, 98, Warsaw, formerly of Liberty Mills, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2023, at Paddock Springs in Warsaw. The second youngest of eleven children, Iva was born on November 22, 1924, in Butler, Indiana, to Cloide Daivd and Zantha Anna (Ginder) Snyder.
Iva graduated from Butler High School in 1942 and then from Warner’s Beauty College in Fort Wayne. On November 25, 1942, Iva married the love of her life, Carl Heater, who she first met at Oakwood Park Church Camp in Syracuse, Indiana, in the late 1930s. During their fifty-five-year marriage, the couple was blessed with two children, Gloria and Clark. On March 15, 1998, Iva lost her soulmate, and two years later on October 4, 2000, Iva’s heart broke a second time when her daughter Gloria died. Unfortunately, she later experienced the loss of her daughter-in-law, Vicki Heater on June 6, 2007 and then her granddaughter, Stephanie Beck, on January 23, 2013. Throughout all of these trials and tribulations, Iva was a lady of true class and compassion, always displaying her loving nature.
In the late 1940s, Iva and Carl became the owners of Lee’s Self-Service Grocery Store in Liberty Mills, and from 1967 to 1996 Iva was the Liberty Mills postmaster. With her strong entrepreneurial spirit, Iva started Rag Rugs Unlimited, an organization whose proceeds were donated to local churches and missionary programs for over forty years. Iva was a member of Liberty Mills United Methodist Church, which later became Liberty Mills Community Church.
The loving memory of Iva Heater will be forever cherished by her son, Clark Heater, Claypool; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and all the people she met over the years. Iva was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl Heater; daughter, Gloria Olinger; granddaughter, Stephanie Beck; daughter-in-law, Vicki L. Heater; and several brothers and sisters.
Family and friends may call Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Liberty Mills Community Church, 150 North 2nd Street, Liberty Mills. Funeral services will begin at the conclusion of calling with Pastor Paul Rupert and Pastor Gregory Bradford officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery at the corner of 400 East and 1300 North, North Manchester, Indiana.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Iva Heater, memorial contributions may be made to Liberty Mills Community Church, P.O. Box 1, Liberty Mills, Indiana 46946.
The family of Iva Heater has entrusted McKee Mortuary with care and final arrangements.
Condolences may be emailed to mckeemortuary.com