Esther Heffel, 96, passed away at her daughter's home, surrounded by her family on Friday, June 24, 2016. Esther was born in Racine on August 23, 1919 to Alex and Marie (nee, Linker) Ruppel. On February 18, 1939 she married Earl G. Heffel. The same year they were married they started their business, Earl Heffel and Son, and it has been successful for three generations. Ben and Dorothea took over after Earl and Esther retired and now the company is run by Kurt and Mary Heffel. Earl preceded her in death on November 1, 1997 and her only son Ben on June 2, 2014. Esther was baptized, confirmed and married at St. John Lutheran Church. In 1992 she became a member of Lutheran Chapel of the Cross. She was very active at St. John's and Chapel of the Cross and a member of the 55 Plus Club with her sisters Lil, Martha and Bertha. Esther was also active in the Lutheran High School Ladies Guild and was one of the original founders of the Lutheran High Thrift Store. She loved her God, family and country. Esther was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She prayed for her family daily and taught us to love the Lord, love each other and always make room at the table for others. She taught us the importance of spending time together and working hard. We know that she is with her family and friends and most of all with Jesus. Survivors include her daughter-in-law, Dorothea Heffel; and her children, Kurt (Mary) Heffel and his sons, Derek and Dalton Heffel; Ken (Sharon) Heffel and their daughters, Rachel, Lauren, Jessica and Erica Heffel; Jeanne (Jeff Alders) Brenner, and her children, Zachary (Myanna Ruiz), Molly and Brady Brenner; daughter, Sandra (Howard) Johnson and their children, Ingrid (Michael) Udell, and her children, Kathryn, Lucas and Robert Clark, Aaron (Kristi) Johnson and their daughters, Olivia and Evelyn Johnson, Jennifer (Ross) Wiemer, and Suzanne (Josh) Naker and their son, Logan Naker; and her sister-in-law, Andrea Heffel. Esther is also survived by her longtime companion, Carl Slye and his family, who held a special place in her heart. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Ester was preceded in death by her parents; and her brothers and sisters, Alex and Romayne Ruppel, Bertha and Jim Chadwick, Martha and Roy Sandin, Edward Ruppel and Lillian and Frank Putra. Funeral services for Esther will be held at Lutheran Chapel of the Cross, 1426 Fancher Road on Friday July 1, 2016 at 12 noon with Rev. Brian Liermann officiating. A private family interment will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church on Friday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Chapel of the Cross Building Fund or Racine Lutheran High School. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Esther's hospice nurse, Debbie for all of her compassionate care