Heather Marie Althoff

HEATHER MARIE ALTHOFF, 43, of Fenton Missouri, passed away at 8:15 am, Thursday, June 25, 2026, at her residence.

She was born to Mark D. and Pam (nee Albertson) Lance on November 24, 1982, in Paducah, Kentucky.

Heather was a force of nature—a hardworking, brilliantly creative, and artistic soul with a big personality that naturally drew people to her. Whether she was designing a room, managing a bustling restaurant, or hunting for the ultimate bargain, Heather filled every space she entered with life, laughter, and an unmistakable touch of style.

Heather’s eye for design began formally at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she earned her degree in Interior Design. She went on to work for several design companies and successfully launched her own business, “Design with Cents.” While her talent for design was undeniable, Heather soon discovered her true passion belonged in the heart of the restaurant business. She loved being in a room full of people, and her magnetic energy made her a perfect fit.

As a restaurant manager at Hamilton Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar and Winnies Wine Bar in St. Louis, Missouri, Heather seamlessly blended her management skills with her creative mind. She poured her heart into planning events, crafting innovative menus, and adding her signature décor touches to the restaurants. To Heather, her staff and customers weren't just patrons or colleagues—they were family. Staff meals were her absolute favorite time of day, and nothing brought her more joy than fixing her famous meatloaf, which was known to completely disappear within minutes.

Outside of work, Heather was an avid thrifter. Mondays were her sacred days, dedicated to hunting for treasures at 75% off. She had an unmatched ability to find the beauty—and the comedy—in the unexpected. Her home was filled with thrifted lamps, clothes, shoes, clocks, games, and items so uniquely bizarre they would make you pause and laugh hysterically. Who else, after all, could successfully hunt down a bright, cat-designed pair of Hey Dudes? She also channeled her creativity into arts and crafts projects with kids, planning elaborate family trips, listening to music, and spoiling her beloved pets, Rocky and Penelope.

Above all else, Heather loved her family fiercely. Her true love was Trevor, and she was immensely proud of the beautiful family they built together. She was the ultimate cheerleader for her step-daughter, Hayden, bursting with pride when Hayden became a catcher and immediately sharing her own childhood stories from behind the catcher’s mound. Her step-son, Collin, was her personal comedian; his quick wit and humor could effortlessly make Heather laugh until she was in tears. And Trevor was her amazing Chef. In Heather’s own words, “Mom… he can make anything, and it tastes amazing.” She once joked that she could pick dandelions out of the yard, hand them to Trevor, and he would turn them into a culinary masterpiece. Heather deeply cherished her new family and the life they shared.

The anchor of Heather’s world, however, was her Momma—her absolute best friend. The bond they shared was unbreakable. For 25 years, a highlight of Heather's life was listening to her Momma improvise and sing show-stopping birthday songs set to the melodies of classic hits like “Proud Mary” and “Long Cool Woman.” The two of them could talk on the phone for hours on end. Even after saying “I gotta go” ten different times, their conversations only ever truly ended one way: “I love you, Momma.”

There are so many more stories we could tell, and so many more we hoped to share. While the loss of an only daughter and best friend leaves an unimaginable void, comfort is found in knowing that Heather is at peace and that we will see her again one day in Heaven.

Heather's vibrant spirit, generous heart, and infectious laughter will be deeply and eternally missed by her family, her friends, and everyone who was lucky enough to be a part of her world.

Survivors:

   Mother:

        Pam (Chris) Steibel  Red Bud, IL

   Step Father:

        Tim Barbeau

   Significant Other:

        Trevor Ploeger  Fenton, MO

   Step Children:

      Collin and Hayden Ploeger

   3 Step Sisters:

      Danielle (Tate) Hartman & family  Springfield, IL

      Cassie (Jon) Heller & family  Red Bud, IL

      Lacie (Phil) Saale & family  Waterloo, IL

   Parents-in-law::

       Ed and Joleen Ploeger

   1 Sister-in-law:

        Amanda Ploeger & family

   1 Brother-in-law:

        Derek (Brittany) Ploeger & family

   Grandparents:

        Nada Early and Tom & Annette Steibel

   1 Niece:

        Ravyn (Kevin) Melton & their children Easton & Laiken

    Aunts & Uncles:

        Lawana (Lewis) Worley, Carmen Loos, Bernell (Carole) Albertson, Vicki (Mark) Cowell, Tamara Early, and Brad (Deborah) Early

   Cousins:

       Shannon Bock and her children Sebastian & Caylia, Chris Deterding and his children Iris & Amelia. Cindy Jones and her children Michael, Patrick, George & Kevin, Kristin Schmidt, Lindsey Mabry, Chance Albertson, Brandon Lance, Matt Cowell, and Amy Deterding and all their families

    Extended family: 

        Albertson, Ploeger, Barbeau, Lance, and Steibel

Preceded in death by:  Father, 1 Brother - Billy Lance, Former Husband - Nick Althoff, Grandparents – Carrell “Bill” & Mary Ann Albertson, Bill & Audra Lance, and Tooley & Betty Barbeau, Great Aunt & Uncle – Melba “Sis” (Vernon) Jones, Cousin – Terry Jones, Uncle – Mike Lance, and her dog – Ziggy

Memorial Service:

   7:00 pm, Friday, July 10, 2026

   Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois

Officiating:

   Pastor Darwin Karsten

Visitation:

   Friday – 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

   Pechacek Funeral Homes, Red Bud, Illinois

Memorials:

   American Heart Association or Family Choice