Edwin Heiden

Edwin C. Heiden, 78, of Sterling, died unexpectedly on Monday, January 5, 2026, at a Lincoln hospital.  He was born on February 2, 1947, at York and graduated from Hampton High School in 1965.  He then attended SCC Milford studying electrical technology.  Ed worked for the Hampton village maintenance department for a year.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 until 1969.  After his discharge he was employed in maintenance at UNL until 1993 and then worked with the Nebraska State Historical Society.  On August 28, 1994, he married Laura Hesterman Parde and they lived in Sterling.  In 1985 he was elected to the Sterling School board and served for 12 years, one year as vice-president, three years as president, and was on the transportation and facilities committee.  He was on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Association of School Boards for three years and spent eight years as legislative network relations representative for Sterling High School.  Ed was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of rural Sterling and served on the church council. He was also a member of the Sterling American Legion.        
Survivors include his wife, Laura Heiden of Sterling; children, Andy Heiden, Nicole Heiden, and Lindsey Pohlmeier; step-children, Lisa (John) Sanders, Michael Parde, and Jeffrey ( Angie) Parde; grandchildren, Meagan, Katelyn, and Ashton Sanders, Logan Parde, Halle (Bailey) Bernadt, and Kenzie Messman; brother, Fred (Ann) Heiden; sister, Mary (Daryl) Swanson; sister-in-law, Faith (Clarence) Parde; nieces and nephews.  
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Alma Heiden; parents-in-law, Norman and Hazel Hesterman; sister-in-law, Lois (Robert) Buehler.
Graveside committal services with military rites will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery of rural Sterling with Pastor Doyle Karst officiating. The body will lie in state on Friday from noon until 8 p.m. at the Zink-Fox Funeral Home.  The family will greet friends on Friday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the family’s choice.    www.foxfuneralhome.net.    Arrangements entrusted to Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling.