Sophia Dorothea Marie Philipine Caroline Bartels was born 17 Sep 1873 in Kankakee, Illinois to Friedrich Christian Bartels and Anna Sophia Dorothea Bartels (nee Bartels)and died 23 Dec 1958 at Fairbury, Nebraska. She was the first of two daughters born to Sophie and Fred, and her multiple middle names harken back to ancestors several generations back. Her family moved to Saline County in 1878; her father was one of the charter members of Zion Lutheran Church and its first elder. She was confirmed at Zion in 1888 and there married Heinrich Fredrich Wilhelm Otto Heidemann on 22 May 1890.

They had 11 children:
John (1893-1927, married Amelia Burkhart);
Rosie (1894-1971, married Frank Burkhart);
Ida (1897-1985, married Ralph Mead);
Amanda (1899-1985, married Bill Holtmeier);
Clara (died in 1902 at the age of 9 months);
Anna (1903-1994, married Ted Drees);
Lydia (1906-1969, married Albert Meyer);
Frida (died in 1908 at the age of 2 months);
Fred Jr (1909-1996, married Eunice Chirnside);
Leonard (Rev.) (1912-1996, married Violet Chirnside); and
Evelyn (1916-1996, married Henry Lammel).

Her obituary was published 2 Jan 1959 in the "Fairbury (Nebraska) Daily News", page 3:
OBITUARY
MRS. SOPHIE HEIDEMANN
Mrs. Sophie Heidemann, daughter of Fredrich and Sophie Bartels, was born on September 17, 1873 at Beecher, Kankakee County, Illinois. She was received into membership with the Lutheran Church by the sacrament of Baptism on October 5, 1873. When she was still a small child her parents moved to Nebraska and settled in the vicinity of Tobias. Here she received her elementary school training and was confirmed as a member of Zion Lutheran Church on March 25, 1888 by the sainted Pastor, S. Meeske.
She was united in marriage with Fredrich Heidemann on May 22, 1890. Eleven children were born to this union. Three of these preceded both father and mother in death. A son, John, passed away on January 12, 1927, and two daughters passed away in early infancy.
After her marriage to Fredrich Heidemann the couple moved to a farm north by north - east of Fairbury. Her husband passed away on April 26, 1949. His mortal remains were laid to rest in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery five miles east of Daykin.
In 1951 she moved into Fairbury. She became a member of Grace Lutheran Church and was active as a member of the Ladies 'Aid and of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League.
Mrs. Heidemann was blessed with exceptionally good health .However, she began to fail in health very noticeably during this present year, was hospitalized a number of times, and finally passed away on last Wednesday morning, December 23, at the age of 85 years, 3 months,and 6 days.
She leaves to mourn her departure two sons, Fred Heidemann of Plymouth and The Rev. Leonard Heidemann, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Seward. She also leaves six daughters, Mrs. Frank Burkhart of Western, Mrs. Ida Mead of Garden City, Kansas, Mrs. William Holtmeier of Tobias, Mrs. Theodore Drees of Garden City. Kansas, Mrs. Albert Meyer of Fairbury, Mrs. Henry Lammel of Arapahoe. In addition to these there are 42 grandchildren, 63 great grandchildren, one brother, John Bartels of Tobias and a host of other relatives and friends.
Her mortal remains will be laid to rest in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery near Daykin.
Funeral services were conducted last Saturday, the 27th, at Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. M. Matuschka was in charge of the service.