Obituary of Rev. Heidi Margot (Schoch) Griessmann

Heidi Margot Griessmann crossed the finish line of her earthly life on Feb. 3, 2020, surrounded by the love of family and close friends. She was 87 years old and died of congestive heart failure. Heidi was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Bertha Keller and Alfred Schoch and was married to Rudolf Griessmann for 43 years, who preceded her in death in 1997. Heidi and Rudy left their mark in the world with four dynamic and fun-loving children. The family immigrated to Portland, OR in 1967. Heidi’s reputation as a gifted Bible teacher, pastor, education director and interpreter/translator in three languages spread throughout the Pacific Northwest. She loved gardening, cooking, baking, crocheting, music, and most of all, teaching and discipling Spanish speaking youth in the Christian faith.

Heidi was employed as a Spanish interpreter and translator for many years in legal, medical and social work. She was an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and earned her degree online through Berean School of the Bible (Springfield, MO). For more than 35 years, Heidi devoted her life to the Northwest Hispanic District of the Assemblies of God, serving as the Christian Education Director for churches all over Oregon and Washington. She also pastored Spanish speaking congregations and trained and developed lay-leaders and pastors in her beloved fellowship. Most recently, she pastored the Spanish-speaking congregation at Family Worship Center in Gresham until she was 85.

Heidi is survived by her four children Daniel (and his wife Kathleen), Tomas (and his daughter, Yohanna), Heidi (and her husband Jerry), and Naomi (and her husband, Greg); and her six grandchildren Jason Paul, Shannon Lang, Christina Lang, Landon Inman, Luke Inman, and Yohanna Griessmann. She will also be missed by her mother-in-law and life-long friend, Dora Schoch, and her sister Rhodes Kimmel, niece Nikoalet Goeman, and grand-niece Bella Goeman. Our lives are enriched by her love and prayers for each one of us and we are grateful to have her with us who lived a long, rich, and beautiful life and devoted her life and work to Jesus Christ. We love you forever grandma, mama, sister Heidi.

A memorial celebration of Heidi’s life and resurrection will be held at 1:00 p.m. on  Friday, April 24, 2020, at Portland Christian Center, 5700 S.W. Dosch Rd., Portland OR 97239.

In lieu of flowers Heidi requests a one-time gift or child sponsorship to ChildHope at www.childhopeonline.org. ChildHope provides education (300 schools in 21 countries) and a brighter future to Latin American and Caribbean children born into poverty.