Ronaele “Roni” Heil,  88, of Dubuque, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Eagle Pointe Place in Dubuque.

A celebration of life will be held from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will be at Linwood Cemetery in Dubuque.

Roni was born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada on July 14, 1936, the daughter of Ronald and Sylvia (Ward) Tanner. On March 18, 1961, she married William “Bill” Heil at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Dubuque, IA.They were together for 53 years, and had three children. He was her rock and she was his “Schatzi”. He preceded her in death on March 17, 2013.

After graduating nursing school at Woodstock Memorial Hospital, Roni interned at New York City Hospital as an RN specializing in obstetrics. This led her to Dubuque in 1959 where she was the head nurse in the maternity ward at Finley Hospital. In 1963, Roni was asked to join the faculty of the Finley Hospital School of Nursing as an instructor of Obstetrics where she taught until its closure in 1985. She continued to work at Finley Hospital in a variety of positions until her retirement in 2013. She also taught at NICC, HCC, and Clarke College. Besides fostering the careers of many future nurses, Roni had the distinction of publishing for nursing journals and being named one of “Iowa’s Greatest Nurses” in 2007.

Being proud of her British heritage, Roni was an avid reader of all things “Victorian.” She loved to shop and meet new people, making many friends wherever she went. There wasn’t a person that she met who didn’t know that the name Ronaele was Eleanor spelled backward. She was also well known for her intricate knitting skills; in fact, hundreds of infants sported specially made caps and booties on their way home from the Finley Hospital birthing suites.

Survivors include her two children, Susan (James) Leatherwood of Yulee, FL, and Doug (Betty) Heil of Dubuque; five grandchildren, Adam (Bailey) Heil, Jacob (Ellen) Leatherwood, Lauren Heil, Evan (Molly) Heil, and Tanner (Brittany Krecker) Leatherwood; 3 great-grandchildren, Isabella, Theodore, and Laurel; her siblings, Judy (Case) Versteeg, David (Linda) Feick, John (Sandy) Feick; Bill’s siblings, Robert (Jean) Heil, and Virginia Danielson. She is also survived by her beloved cat, Winston Churchill III.

Those preceding Roni in death include, her husband, their “Little Lamb”, infant son, Stevie; her parents; many in-laws; aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews; and especially, her dear grandpa Ward.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque and Lord of Life Lutheran Church.

The family would like to thank the loving community and staff at Eagle Pointe Place Assisted Living Center, her longtime friend and care provider, Dr, John E. Whalen and his staff, especially Sarah, her spiritual guides at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, especially Larry, and Hospice of Dubuque, especially Buffy, for their wonderful, supportive care.

Condolences and memories of Roni can be sent to the family by visiting her obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.