Marian Christine (Hardy) Heideman 83, of Portage Michigan went home to be with the Lord on April 23, 2025- Born July 9, 1941 to Vera and Stanley Hardy in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Marian spent her early years visiting Benton Harbor on the weekends with her brother and parents, where sneaking on the bus as a young girl to go downtown with her cousin Nadia, was a great memory. She loved the time spent at her grandmother and grandfather’s house, enjoying family meals and going down to her grandparent’s little store they had below their home. She had a special relationship with her cousins and Auntie Olga.

She graduated from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, got married and had her children. The family moved to Florida for a few years, where she worked at the Holiday Inn in St. Petersburg Beach. They moved back to Michigan, and she worked for Portage Schools for a season as a classroom aide. After her divorce Marian started working at Mead Products, where she worked her way up to Purchasing Manager for the plant until her retirement. That is where she met the love of her life, Duane Heideman. They were married on Valentine’s Day, 1987, and she loved and was loved by him until he passed in December of 2007.

She started working at Valley Family Church, where she worked for 20 years and faithfully served the Lord in Guests Services for over 25 years. She loved volunteering at the Refuge Thrift store where she fixed, separated and arranged the jewelry. She also served at Valley Groceries for many years, at first helping with food distribution and praying for those that needed that comfort from the Lord. She then served every Tuesday morning helping to get the food bagged and ready for those in need.

She loved spending time with family every holiday, usually Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter was with family, sometimes it was spent with friends that are family. There was always lots of great food, laughter and fun. She made the best Coconut Cream and Chocolate Ribbon Pies.

She was a master gardener, and her yard was always so beautiful and flourishing, she could make anything grow and was the envy of so many.

Marian loved JESUS first and foremost. She cherished her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved serving her Pastors, her church, and her church family.

As many of you know Marian was a powerful Prayer Warrior and if she knew you, you were probably the recipient of that prayer. She spent hours every night praying for her family, friends, so many others and even those she had just met. Too many to even count. She will leave a great void in so many people’s lives.

Marian is survived by her Son Greg Gustin (Vicki), Daughter Michelle Wellman (Matt), Stepson Tom (Mary), Stepdaughters Marla Deluca (Joe), and Dana Heideman. Her grandchildren, Tara Farrell (Matt), Andrea Ambler (Shane), Rachel Wellman, Phillip Wellman (Jordyn Karcz), step-grandchildren, Meghan Waite (Dan), Olivia DeLuca, Gabby DeLuca, Marty McLean, Josh Webb, Kalee Webb, Austin Walker (Cosette), and nine great-grandchildren. Her brother Stan Hardy (Carol) and nieces. She had two very special friends so dear to her heart, Sandy Dedo and Bobbie (Bob) Reish, who she called sister and daughter, and a special love for all her church friends, too many to mention.