Nola P. Heijnen

Canal Fulton – Nola P. Heijnen, age 83, passed away on April 3, 2026, her hand being held by her daughter and granddaughter, and in the loving embrace of her children and grandchildren who were with her in spirit, albeit a distance away.

 Nola was born on October 14, 1942 in Cumming, IA to the late Noal and Freida (Lanphier) Thomas.  She moved from her beloved Iowa to Ohio in 1960.  She was a resident of Clinton, Ohio, and, in her later years, of the Canal Fulton / Doylestown area.  Nola spent her young life raising five children, worked for Acme as a cashier and in the head office for a period of time, and, eventually, after a life of hard work, retired.  She then began to enjoy the hobby of attending flea markets, yard sales, barn sales and antique shops in which she tirelessly searched for broken, dirty and discarded dolls to be repaired, cleaned, clothed and re-sold to a loving home.  She loved going to breakfast and road trips.  

For reasons only known to God, Alzheimer’s robbed her of her memory and mobility and left behind a sweet woman with a hilarious sense of humor and a family with a broken heart.  We as a family forever are indebted to the Doylestown Healthcare Center’s nurses’ and aides’ loving care for her for the last four years.

 In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her first husband of 18 years, William Bragg; second husband of 42 years, Gerrit Heijnen; infant twin great-grandchildren, Maddison and Klayton Lindley; brother, Merrill Lanphier; sister, Shirley Alfaro; stepson, Wayne Heijnen; and step-grandson, Dustin Kalstrom. Nola is survived by her children, Jodi (Mike) McKinley of Akron (formerly of Doylestown); David Bragg of Caruso, NC; Bill Bragg of Caruso, NC; Linda Lindley of Bloomington, IL; Jeff (Katrina) Bragg of Asheville, NC; stepchildren, Doris (Randy) Kalstrom; Johanna Costello; Ellie (Brian) Skidmore; 23 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren (and counting); numerous other family and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at Zak-Thacker & Monbarren Funeral Home, 132 N. Portage St., Doylestown, OH, 44230, with Pastor Rod Grabski officiating.  Calling hours will be from 10 a.m. until time of service on Saturday.  Her inurnment will take place at a future date when Nola’s daughters take her on a final road trip and she and Gerrit will be placed next to her mother and father in the Merle Hay Cemetery in Des Moines, IA.  Online obituary and guest registry are available at www.zakmonbarrenfh.com

(Zak-Thacker & Monbarren, 330-658-2211)

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