Kathleen Marie Heaberlin

Kathleen Marie Heaberlin, a homemaker and mother of three, died August 12th after a brief battle with metastatic cancer. She was 76. A memorial service will be held at Rejoice Church in Owasso, OK on Saturday, August 23rd at 11 a.m. Kathleen was born on March 11th, 1949, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Eunice and Burton Newman. Kathleen grew up on a farm near Mitchellville, Iowa. The daughter of an insurance executive and a farmer, Kathleen learned the value of hard work and the importance of family at an early age. Kathleen developed an appreciation for music by playing clarinet and oboe in the marching band and graduated from Bondurant-Farrar High School in 1967. Kathleen married Ken Heaberlin a widower, in 1968. When engaged, Ken told Kathy that she could have a ring or a convertible. Kathy replied, “I’ll take candy apple red...” 57 years later, the 1968 Ford Galaxie convertible remains in the family. Kathleen instantly became a mom to two young boys, Tony and Dennis. Their birth mother Diana passed away suddenly just before her 21st birthday in 1966. In 1971, Kathleen and Ken had a daughter, Dana. Kathleen taught piano lessons and followed her husband’s career in the oil and gas industry at Skelly Oil Company in Des Moines, Iowa and Denver, Colorado where they became avid Denver Broncos fans. Through several transitions, company buyouts, and making life-long friends along the way they landed in Tulsa, OK. Later they had stops in Los Angeles and Houston, until retiring in 1999. In retirement, Ken and Kathy enjoyed their home on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Arkansas and many years traveling in their motorhome, camping with friends and family. They later returned to Oklahoma to live in the country near Owasso. Kathleen spent time substitute teaching at Rejoice Schools and volunteering at Rejoice Church. Preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Heaberlin, parents Eunice and Burton Newman, son Dennis Heaberlin and daughter-in-law Mollie Heaberlin. Survivors include sister Colleen Wagner and her husband Mike, brother Mark Newman and his wife Renee, and sister-in-law Margret Heaberlin Sexton. Additional survivors include son Tony and his wife Casey Lynn, daughter Dana Watson and her husband Cary, and grandchildren Collin Heath and his wife Becca, Casey Abbott Heaberlin, Grace Bannerlyn, Jack Heaberlin as well as great grandson Levi Heath and dog, Charlie. In lieu of flowers, family and friends are encouraged to donate to the American Cancer Society or Rejoice Church, Owasso Oklahoma.

Kathleen Marie Heaberlin

March 11, 1949 - August 12, 2025