Dr. Heather Anne (Vahle) Dews was born Jan. 28, 1969, in Omaha, to Dr. Van and Rebecca “Becky” (Cattle) Vahle and passed away Jan. 10, 2022, in Lincoln, at the age of 52 years, 11 months and 13 days.
Heather grew up in Seward and attended Seward Elementary, Seward Jr. High and Seward High. She graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1987, where she was awarded the Senior Key. She attended college at the University of Mississippi. While there, she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority and received the Outstanding Active Award. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1991. She then attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center and received her Doctorate of Medicine in 1995, followed by residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1995-1998. She was board certified. Heather remained on staff at Children’s Mercy Hospital and was an assistant professor at UMKC until her move to Lincoln in March of 2005. While at Children’s Mercy, she enjoyed an active practice in the General Pediatrics Department, covering hospital services and nursery, as well as an extensive amount of outpatient clinics with an emphasis on resident and student education.
Heather married Randall Dews in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 26, 2001. They had two wonderful children, Kylie Megan (May 7, 2002) and Connor Van (Dec. 26, 2007).
Heather was a proud member of Lincoln Pediatric Group since 2005. She continued to love teaching and enjoyed the opportunity to contribute to the Lincoln Community Enuresis Clinic as well as teaching newborn parenting courses.
In addition to enjoying time with her family and supporting her children’s multiple extracurricular activities, her interests also included swimming, singing, playing the piano, cooking, entertaining, travel and reading. She was also a member of PEO Chapter CC in Seward.
Heather was preceded in death by her grandfather, John W. Cattle, Sr.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her husband, Randy Dews, Lincoln; daughter, Kylie Dews, Lincoln; son, Connor Dews, Lincoln; parents, Dr. Van and Becky Vahle, Seward; grandmother, Virginia Clarke Cattle, Seward; brother, Van Christopher Vahle, Hong Kong, sister, Nicole, Isanti, Minnesota; sister, Kourtney, Chicago, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Sandy Fuchs, Fulton, Missouri, and Patty Dews, DeSoto, Missouri; brother-in-law, Don and his wife, Diane Dews, Columbia, Missouri; aunts and uncles; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
A Celebration of Life was Jan. 14 at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Lincoln with inurnment at the Greenwood Cemetery in Seward. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or to the Lincoln Pediatric Group. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
