Clea "Pop" Edger Heisel

Clea (Clealand) “Pop” Heisel was born February 11, 1926, in Wessington Springs, South Dakota, to Phillip and Oma (Lindley) Heisel. He grew up on a farm with six siblings. At the age of 18, Pop married Clara Walz on June 15, 1944, and they had four children together. They remained in South Dakota for about ten years before relocating to California where Pop took a job as a machinist building gear boxes for ships and submarines. He retired from that job at the young age of 47 and moved to Oregon where he would live out the rest of his life. Although he never received any formal education after 8th grade, Pops could do just about anything. He took to his machinist job easily, learning everything on the job, and excelled at it. From the time he was in California and into his retirement in Oregon, he flipped houses on the side, doing all the work himself. He truly was a jack of all trades with an incredibly strong work ethic. Every night after work you could find Pop puttering in his workshop, completely absorbed in his latest project. He never slowed down, even in “retirement”. As the fun parent, Pop took his kids camping and fishing and on day trips to the beach or the snow. He was a wonderful dad enjoyed the time he got to spend with his kids creating memories they would cherish always. The family took trips to South Dakota yearly to see family, and Pop went every couple of years for reunions. When the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, he thoroughly enjoyed his time with them as well. Pop and Clara loved the Lord and were active members of their churches, first in California, then at Calvary Lutheran Church in Stayton for the past almost 50 years. At Calvary Lutheran, Pop was very involved in many projects including the roof and the narthex. One of the things Pop was known for was his beautiful garden where he produced giant vegetables. He also took clippings of the roses at church and cultivated his own rose garden for Clara, which she tended lovingly. Pop and Clara celebrated more than 71 years of loving marriage until her passing on March 22, 2016. They leave a beautiful legacy of love and commitment to God and each other. On May 15, 2021, at the age of 95, Pop entered into the arms of his Savior and was reunited with his beloved Clara. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Oma; his wife Clara; and his daughter Deonne Gunderson. Pop will be deeply missed by those he leaves behind including his children C. Dean (Bertha) Heisel, Trudy (Wally) Manning, and Rhonda Persons; 8 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. Service information pending.