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ather Marie, daughter of Joe and Sharon (Reischl) Odendahl, was born December 10, 1979, in Manning, Iowa. She grew up on a farm north of Manning and graduated from Manning High School in 1998. She then attended American Institute of Business in Des Moines and graduated in 2000.
   On September 8, 2001, Heather was united in marriage with Brad Kusel at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. Three children were born to this couple. They made their home on a farm south of Manning. Heather first worked at the Family Healthcare Center in Manning and has been the Junior High-Elementary secretary at IKM-Manning Schools since 2012.
   Heather was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Heather’s kids were her life. She cherished watching them play basketball and do gymnastics. Heather also enjoyed golfing, reading, scrapbooking, vacationing with her family and shopping. She was very much loved and respected by the students and staff at the middle school.
   On Friday, December 13, 2019, Heather died at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 40 years of age.
   She was preceded in death by her grandparents Ed Reischl and Louis and Delores Odendahl; and her father-in-law Barry Kusel.
   Heather is survived by her husband Brad Kusel of Manning; their children: Ross, Brock and Kora at home in Manning; parents Joe and Sharon Odendahl of Manning; sister Nicole Odendahl of Carroll; brother Patrick Odendahl of Carroll; grandmother Irene Reischl of Manning; mother-in-law Jean Kusel of Manning; a sister-in-law Teri (Scott) Kerkhoff, and their children Erin and Brody, of Coralville; other relatives and many friends.