Norma Lee (Payne) Heinicke died in the early morning hours of November 25, 2017. She was 89 years old and a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Norma was born in April 15, 1928 in Louisville, Kentucky to Anna Matilda (Cathcart) and Forrest Lee Huntington Payne.

She is survived by her seven children; Elizabeth Bruns (John) of Eden, Idaho; Stephen (Ann) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Karen Heinicke-Motsch (Thomas) of Eugene, Oregon; Cheryl Heebner of Grand Prairie, Texas; Janetta of KAUST, Saudi Arabia; Leah (Joe) of Gulfport, Florida; and Brenda (Sabrina) of Seward, Nebraska; Grandchildren Melissa, Angela, Jill, Amanda, Erica, Zachary, Kerstin, and Alexander; as well as her Great Grandchildren Kira, Katherine, Roland, Declan, Eric, and Jeremy; and her sister, Verna.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Victor E. Heinicke, as well as her siblings John, Forrest, Harvey, Ann, Robert, Richard, Thomas, Howard, James, and Russell.

Norma was born in Louisville, Kentucky and the family moved to New Albany, Indiana. Norma attended Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Illinois for two years and then taught 1st and 2nd grades at Concordia Lutheran School, Cincinnati, Ohio.

She met her husband, Vic, in 1951 and they were married on June 27, 1954 and subsequently traveled to New Guinea where they were Lutheran missionaries. They lived and worked together at various mission stations in the New Guinea Lutheran Mission until December, 1971.

After Vic's death in 1972, the family moved to Seward, Nebraska, where Norma completed her BS degree at Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska. She then went on to earn her Master's degree at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

She taught Special Education at Seward Middle School until her retirement.

For the past ten years, she resided in St. Petersburg, Florida, continuing to be active in church and community activities.

Norma is remembered for her wit, her quick laugh, her warm hospitality and her strong faith.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida on Sat. Dec. 2nd at 10:00am.

A later memorial service will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska.
Memorials may be sent to the PNG Mission Society, P.O. Box 661, Warrensburg, MO 64093 (EIN: 412002387)

The family would like to thank Leah Heinicke for her steadfast and loving care of Norma in her last years. We also thank the Florida Cancer and Research Center and Empath Suncoast Hospice for the excellent care received by Norma.