Ila Mae HeggenWest Des MoinesIt is with great sadness we announce that our mom, Ila Mae Heggen, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. Mom touched so many lives and was a very special person. She was so full of life and enjoyed it to the fullest. One of her greatest joys was time with her family and friends as well as her volunteer work at Lutheran Hospital and its "Not New Shop." She always enjoyed learning something new and played bridge, cribbage, and most recently was learning to play pool and miniature golf. Ila Mae was born on January 24, 1936, to Harlan and Eva Stuart. She was the youngest of four and full of spunk, which helped her navigate through life. In 1956, Ila Mae married Ronald Heggen and the couple embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. They traveled the US and the world, depending on where the Air Force stationed Ron. Along the way, they had five boys who could be very rambunctious at times. But being mom, she always had a way of keeping them in line, while being supportive and proud of whom they would become.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald Heggen; sister, Wilma Weise; and her granddaughter, Mercedes Marie Heggen. Ila Mae is survived by her sister, Dorothy (Jim) Rose; brother, Roy Stuart; sisters-in-law, Marlavonne (Herb) Butler and Mary Jane Heggen; and her five boys, Scott, Robert (Lori), Rodney, Russell (Diana), and Richard (Carrie) Heggen; 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Mom was our rock, our inspiration, and the reason we are who we are today. She will be greatly missed. We will celebrate her life on Friday, June 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.