Maebell Faye (Heintze) Beard

Maebell Faye (Heintze) Beard was born on May 8, 1933, to Oscar and Ida Heintze of Thorndale. 

She passed away quietly on May 27, 2022, in her home in Ahwatukee, Ariz. 

She was part of a farming family and very active in her high school and community until her marriage in 1953 to her high school sweetheart Edwin Beard, also of Thorndale. 

After high school she traveled with Edwin to the various military bases during his induction, then attended business college while her husband was finishing his college degree at the University of Texas. She moved to Tempe, Arizona with Edwin when he was hired at Motorola. She attended Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in the 1960s as a member, Sunday school teacher, choir and LWML, plus various fundraising events. She was a leader in the Tempe Happy Homemakers 4-H Club for eight years. 

In the 1970s, she was employed as an Optical Assistant and Office Manager for 27 years. During this time she also was involved with the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) and became a nutrition counselor selling the Cambridge Diet Plan. Maebell and family became charter members and supported the building of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Tempe, until 2000 when she returned to Beautiful Savior as a permanent member. 

She enjoyed sewing for her daughter, fishing with the family, quilting with a group in Ahwatukee providing quilts to various charities, participating in 4-H activities with her children, singing with her husband in various church choirs and quartets, supported and attended ASU football and her travels included seeing family yearly in Texas, group travels to Australia & Germany, and family trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Alaska. 

She is survived by her son, Brian Beard of Harker Heights; and daughter, Cathy Diepenbrock and son-in-law Robert Diepenbrock of Chandler, Ariz. 

Her parents and three siblings, Marvin Heintze of Austin, Laverne Mirtsching of Pflugerville, and Karene Weise of San Gabriel preceded her passing.

Memorial services will be scheduled and date is yet to be determined.