Sara M. Hegner

Sara Hegner, 76, passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN. She was born on January 20, 1948 in Chicago, IL to Lucius and Margaret More.

Sara grew up in Chicago, IL and graduated from Taft High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts from North Park College, with a major in Mathematics and a minor in French.

Her business career began at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago where she met her future husband, Edward. They married in 1971, and in 1972 they were transferred to Des Moines IA. Over the years Sara worked at Plain Talk Publishing as a Computer Programmer; freelanced as a Computer Programmer; and worked at National Pork Producers Council in the IT department. She then retired as a Systems Administrator from Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency.

Sara had a love for travel. From annual family vacations to Breckenridge, CO; a dream vacation to Ireland with her daughter; fulfilling Ed's wine tasting tour of Italy; to Sara's ultimate dream destination to see the Eifel tower in Paris, France and Monet's garden in Giverny, France. She also enjoyed sitting with a good book, gardening, and attending a variety of live theater performances. She filled her life by making memories with the people she loved and cared for.

Sara was a proud two time cancer survivor. She bravely fought her first bout of AML in 2006 and enjoyed 16 healthy, wonderful years. The AML returned in 2022 and the next two years was a battle she courageously fought with the help of her daughter Cara, who was always by her side. In 2023 she was given a gift of a bone marrow transplant. Through this journey she showed strength, courage and resilience. She was a warrior. The bone marrow transplant was successful and she became grafted (100% donor). She later passed away from complications of a bacterial infection.

Sara is survived by her daughter, Cara of Des Moines; brother David (Patricia) More of IL; nephew, Thomas (Rebecca) More and family of IL; nephew, Michael (Sophia) More and family of IL; and her canine companions, Carley and Mousse. Sara was preceded in death by her parents, brother Luke, and husband Ed.

We would like to thank Dr. William Hogan and staff at Mayo Clinic Hospital and Dr. Amy Hughes and staff at Mission Cancer + Blood in Des Moines, IA. We are grateful for all their dedication, compassion and wonderful care they gave my mom throughout this journey. We would also like to extend a huge thank you to the bone marrow donor for their most generous gift.

A Celebration of Life for both Edward and Sara Hegner will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm at The Shop DSM Event Center.