Kathleen M. Heiple

Kathleen (Kathy) Heiple passed away on March 1st, 2021. Kathy was born June 14, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her father, Raymond, worked for the Santa-Fe Railroad Co. for 49 years, which led the family to living in several different cities. Kathy attended many different schools during her early life, but the family finally made their permanent home in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she graduated from Marquette High School in 1958. After high school, Kathy completed a nursing program at St. John’s School of Nursing becoming a registered nurse in 1961. She then enrolled at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
After becoming a nurse, Kathy met her husband, Harold Heiple, an attorney, on a blind date. The two married one year later on November 24th, 1962. Kathy and Harold had three children in the first four years of their marriage: Laura, Greg and Scott. After their third child, Harold asked Kathy if she would be alright taking a break from work to be a stay-at-home mom and raise the kids. Kathy remembers saying yes faster than when Harold proposed!
In the beginning, Kathy volunteered throughout the community in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to), the American Red Cross, blood drives, health fairs, PTA and other school functions for her kids. Her three children were heavily involved in athletics and Kathy was commonly known as “Nurse Kathy” around every baseball field, basketball and volleyball court, rendering medical aid whenever necessary (even to the other team!!).
During her early volunteer years, Kathy noticed a void in Norman concerning basic health care for low-income individuals and families. Over time, she became passionate, trying to figure out a way to deliver basic, affordable healthcare services to those in need. In 1981, Kathy founded and opened Norman’s first free health clinic, “Health for Friends,” which was located within one half of the Kawasaki motorcycle building. The clinic consisted of one small table, a couple of chairs, a bed sheet as a wall divider and a legal pad.
Kathy oversaw the growth of Health for Friends for 23 years. It grew into a dynamic, affordable health center, offering public care in the areas of dental health, women’s health, prenatal services and a full pharmacy. Health for Friends provided compassionate, free medical services to the Norman community. Her selfless volunteer work was so inspiring that in 1990, President George H.W. Bush flew into Tinker Air Force base and presented Kathy his prestigious “Point of Light” award and personally guided her on a tour of Air Force One.
Eventually, Kathy retired from Health for Friends, but this did not stop her. She joined the board of Full Circle Adult Day Center where she became an active and passionate spokesperson for the cause. She also found time to volunteer as a patient advocate for the Norman Regional Hospital, helping nurses, doctors and patients whenever she could. Kathy served on the board of the YMCA and helped establish the Norman Public School Foundation where she worked tirelessly to bring free Kindergarten education to all of Norman’s children. Kathy’s volunteerism had no boundaries.
Above all, however, Kathy’s true love (besides her husband and children) was her love for God and her Catholic faith. Kathy and her husband of 58 years, Harold, were extremely active members of St. Thomas More University Parish for over 40 years. They were known to prepare communion, read scriptures, organize events and welcome any new student or family to the church with a smile and a hug. Kathy and Harold’s love, commitment and financial support to St. Thomas More inspired the church to name their newly built fellowship hall, “Heiple Hall” in their honor. There simply are not enough words to describe all that Kathy did for Norman and who she was as a person. She gave everything to her kids, her husband, her community and her faith. She carried God’s love wherever she went.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Ruby, her sister Patty, and her husband, Harold. She is survived by her three children: Laura (Heiple) and her husband David of Rocklin, California, Greg and April Heiple of Norman, and Scott Heiple of Norman, and her brother Tom and his wife Karen, of Tulsa. Kathy had seven grandchildren: Andrew, Derek, Carly, Zachary, Alexander, Mia and Kaetlyn. She also had three great-grandchildren: Rachel, Ryan and Lauren, whom she described as the greatest gift of all from God and the reason to stay healthy and grow old.
A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday March 8th at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish. A rosary will be prayed in her honor Sunday March 7th at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas More. Donations may be made to St. Thomas More Music Ministry and/or Food and Shelter of Norman.

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