She glows : Abby Heidenreich

from Glo - June 2022

Grillin’ and Chillin’

she glows

ABBY HEIDENREICH

By Stacie Ball | Photo by Randy Smith

In 1923, Abby Heidenreich’s great grandparents left Ansbach, Germany, searching for a great manufacturing industrial city with jobs and German-speaking churches. They boarded a boat named “America” and set sail for their new home. Each generation fell more in love with Fort Wayne and its residents, and Heidenreich is working hard to share the love and her German Heritage.

“She cares about people and put the needs of others before herself,” Heidenreich’s son Jaeger expressed about his mother. “She gives a lot of herself to others.”

After working for a corporation for 19 years, Heidenreich accepted a position in the technology department of Fort Wayne Community Schools. She was elated to be able to support students, teachers, and administrators. Becoming a tutor for Study Connection and a mentor for an elementary student allowed her to give back even more to her community. She revealed that “helping people has always been important to me, and in my job now, I can do that.”

Getting to know people, cultivating relationships, and honoring family have been crucial parts of Heidenreich’s life. She enjoyed building rapport with patrons when she worked at a local, popular restaurant and formed many friendships playing on a women’s soccer league. She continues to develop partnerships serving two German Clubs: the German Heritage Society, founded by her father, and the Fort Wayne Turners, where she serves as vice president.

“Keeping the German Heritage alive and celebrating our ancestry was important to him, so it became important to me. My greatest hope is that I am making him proud,” Heidenreich conveyed about her father, Judge Kenneth Sheibenberger. An integral part of honoring her German Heritage is serving on the Germanfest Committee, composed of 4 local clubs: The Fort Wayne Sport Club, The Fort Wayne Mannerchor/Damenchor, The German Heritage Society, and The Fort Wayne Turners. She fondly remembered volunteering to fill cups with soda at Germanfest when she was eight. A cheerful volunteer each year, eventually, she became an apprentice behind the bar. After 24 years of dedication, she became vice president, marketing chair, and bar chair of the festival in 2018.

“Germanfest is essen, trinken und gemutlicheit- eating, drinking and a good time!” Heidenreich exclaimed about the event. Beginning June 5th, Headwaters Park is transformed into a German Biergarten, kicking off the summer festival season. Whether you “sprechen sie Deutsch” (speak German) or not, there’s something for everyone. Sit at the long table, promoting a sense of community, where you can visit with friends and make new ones. Play fun games and contests with a German flair like Legs N’ Lederhosen or the Wienerdog Nationals. Indulge in homemade food like potato salad, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and cake, all derived from a club member’s family recipe. Additionally, there are events throughout the city all week long.

Join Heidenreich and many others for Germanfest from June 5-12th. Sign up on the website to volunteer or register for events! For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.germanfest.org. a