Yorkville - Christine A. Heimerl (nee. Sterk), age 87, passed away peacefully at Ascension - All Saints Hospital in Racine on Saturday, January 10, 2026. She was born on December 17, 1938, in Calumet, Michigan, daughter of Ray and Aggie (nee. Sterk) Karvola and spent most of her upbringing there. Christine graduated from Calumet High School in 1956, went on to attend Houghton College of Business in Houghton, MI and later moved to Milwaukee, where she attended Marquette University. While in Milwaukee, she met Robert Heimerl, where they fell in love and married on January 30, 1965, in Waukegan, Illinois. They were married for 38 years, until his passing on August 27, 2003.

Following their marriage, Robert and Christine continued living in Milwaukee, before moving to Yorkville in 1969, living alongside Robert's siblings, Willis and Janice, on Old Yorkville Road. Robert started Bob's Machinery Ranch, selling and auctioning off farm equipment, with Christine at his side, helping with the bookkeeping and running the business. Christine was a devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Union Grove. She was very active in the church and often helped with the funeral luncheons that took place in the church hall. Christine was known to collect dolls and had a very large collection of them. She loved her cats that lived around their property, feeding and caring for them. Recently, Christine was very active with the Red Hat Ladies. She very much enjoyed the various group outings and the lasting friendships she made. Most of all, Christine was a dedicated wife and mother, lovingly caring for both her husband and son, Robert Jr. She will be deeply missed by all that knew her.

Christine is survived by her son, Robert Heimerl, Jr.; grandson, Kristopher Heimerl; brother, Frank Karvola; sister-in-law, Janice Hahn; nieces and nephew, Denise (Bruce) Engelhardt, Darryl (Mia) Hahn, Susan (Burnie) Breaker, and Sharon (Louis) Fleiss; long-time friend from MI, Marcie Kunnari; and many other relatives, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Johnny Karvola; brothers-in-law, Clarence Hahn and Willis (Jeanette) Heimerl.

Visitation will be held at Miller-Reesman Funeral Home on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 3320 S. Colony Avenue, Union Grove, from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am. Private interment alongside her husband will take place at Forest Hill Memorial Park.