Heidi J. Pederson
Heidi J. Pederson
May 21, 1969 – October 07, 2011
Grinnell, Iowa
Graveside Service: 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 13, 2011 at Lakeview Section of Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell
Heidi Jo Pederson, 42, of Grinnell died October 7, 2011, at the home of her parents. A graveside service and burial has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 13, at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell with Deacon Diane Eberhart, Grinnell United Methodist Church, officiating. Memorial contributions may be directed to Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS).
Heidi was born May 21, 1969, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Roger and Mitzi Winkler Pederson. She was raised in Grinnell and was a 1987 graduate of Grinnell High School. She received a B.A. degree in Journalism and Psychology at the University of Iowa in 1991.
Heidi developed her passion for writing in high school. She was employed as a newspaper journalist with the Stillwater (Oklahoma) News Press and Tulsa World, and most recently at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She was a free-lance sportswriter for Reuters Wire Service out of London, England, covering the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; Sidney, Australia; and Athens, Greece. She was also a free-lance sportswriter for the Philadelphia Daily News, International Gymnast magazine, and the Philadelphia Sports Network. Heidi covered several national wrestling championships in the U.S. and World Gymnastics meets in Puerto Rico and China. The last two years she was a high school journalism teacher in Irving, Texas. She held a great love for all animals, especially her cats, and she loved to cultivate her flower garden.
Survivors include her parents, Roger and Mitzi Pederson of Grinnell; two brothers, Kirk (Kristi) Pederson of Ankeny and Dana (LeAnn) Pederson of Grinnell; a half-sister, Kyle Harrison; a half-brother, Doug Snyder; two nieces, Samantha and Katie Pederson of Grinnell; two step-nephews, Zane and Trent Ratcliff of Ankeny; one aunt, Norma Kaisand of Grinnell; two uncles, Don Pederson of Grinnell and Robert (Rita) Winkler of Flagler Beach, Florida; several other relatives; and her beloved cats. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Jack and Irma Winkler and Leonard and Augusta Pederson.
