Cleo Johanna Heithoff

Cleo Johanna (Renze) Heithoff, 91, who was born September 9, 1935 in Carroll, Iowa and passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Cleo was the daughter of Clem Theodor Renze and Clara Emma (Miller) Renze of Carroll, Iowa where she attended and graduated from St. Angela Academy in 1953.

On May 14, 1955, Cleo married LaVerne Edward Heithoff of Templeton, Iowa. Over their 71 years of marriage Cleo and Verne made their home mostly in Des Moines, Overland Park, Kansas, and more than 20 years in Grimes, Iowa.

After raising four children, Cleo attended community college, became a licensed real estate agent, and worked many years in the insurance industry.

As a couple, Cleo and Verne had a lot of fun together dancing, traveling, attending Drake University basketball and football games, and cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cleo is survived by her husband LaVerne Heithoff of Grimes; children/spouses - Diana & Chet Petrow of Denver, CO, Sharon & Stephen Vickery of Des Moines, IA, and Jeff & Nasdina Heithoff of Boise, ID; grandchildren/spouses - Sam Vickery & Taylor Regelsperger of Seattle, WA, Joe & Katie Petrow of Atlanta, GA, Dan Heithoff of Boise, ID, Ksenia Vickery of Des Moines, IA, and Drake & Camille Heithoff of Boise, ID; brother Phil Renze of Carroll, IA; brother in law Wayne Heithoff of Grimes, IA; sisters in law Teresa Pudenz of Omaha, NE and Mary Wessling of Carroll, IA; and many wonderful nieces and nephews located throughout the country. Cleo was preceded in death by her oldest son Mark Alan Heithoff, parents Clara & Clem Renze, and younger brother Loren Renze.

Special thanks to the staff at Deerfield Retirement Community for making Cleo’s last year so pleasant and comfortable.

Visitation will be held at Caldwell Parish Funeral Home on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory (8201 Hickman Rd., Urbandale) from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church (7075 Ashworth Rd., West Des Moines) on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Donations to honor Cleo’s life can be made to the St. Francis of Assisi Church Building Fund.