MacArthur Journalism Teacher, Heidi J. Pederson

Heidi Jo Pederson, 42, of Grinnell died October 7, 2011, at the home of her parents.

Heidi was born May 21, 1969, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Roger and Mitzi Winkler Pederson. She was raised in Grinnell and was a 1987 graduate of Grinnell High School. She received a B.A. degree in Journalism and Psychology at the University of Iowa in 1991.

Heidi developed her passion for writing in high school. She was employed as a newspaper journalist with the Stillwater (Oklahoma) News Press and Tulsa World, and most recently at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She was a free-lance sportswriter for Reuters Wire Service out of London, England, covering the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia; Sidney, Australia; and Athens, Greece. She was also a free-lance sportswriter for the Philadelphia Daily News, International Gymnast magazine, and the Philadelphia Sports Network. Heidi covered several national wrestling championships in the U.S. and World Gymnastics meets in Puerto Rico and China. The last two years she was a high school journalism teacher at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. She held a great love for all animals, especially her cats, and she loved to cultivate her flower garden.