Daniel "Dan" R. Heisler

Daniel R. “Dan” Heisler, 81 of Devils Lake, ND passed away Sunday morning, August 30, 2015 at the Lakota Good Samaritan Center. Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, September 4th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:00 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Daniel was born to Thomas and Philamena (Schwahn) Heisler on September 29, 1933 on a farm south of Esmond, ND. He attended country grade school until 1943 when his parents moved to a farm south of Harvey where he graduated from the 8th grade at St. Cecelia’s Catholic School in 1948. He then attended Harvey High School. Dan joined the National Guard in March of 1950. He entered federal service with Tank Company 164th Infantry in January 1951, serving in Camp Rucker, Alabama. In 1951 he earned his High School Certificate under the GED program. Dan was united in marriage to Bonnie Pellett on December 23, 1953 at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church. After his release from active duty, he worked for Lebeldt Implement Company in Harvey and continued service in the National Guard. He became a full time employee with the North Dakota National Guard at Camp Grafton, near Devils Lake in January 1956 as an auto mechanic. He was later promoted to supervisor at the “Unit Training Equipment Site”. He proudly served in the National Guard Active Service for 43 years, retiring on September 30, 1993, with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. After retirement, Dan did small engine repair out of his garage. Dan was a member and past Commander of the Devils Lake American Legion Post #24 and also was very active in the American Legion baseball program for many years. He enjoyed membership in the Eagles and was a past president and also a life member of the Elks Lodge. Dan also was a devout member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and life member of the Knights of Columbus. Dan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Bonnie; four sons Dan and Ann of Manhattan, MT, Gary and Patti, Fargo, ND, Rod and Connie, Devils Lake and Jeff and Karen also of Fargo; nine grandchildren Corrine (Nate) Kegel, Matt Heisler and Marissa Carter; Bryce Heisler; Shane (Kristie) Heisler, Christopher (Lindsay) Heisler, Kyla (John) Maritato; Brandon and Alex Heisler; ten great grandchildren Chase and Katie Kegel, Eastin, Maddox and Trace Heisler, Savannah and Sean O’Reilly and Tatum Heisler; Phillip and Isabelle Maritato; sisters Ernestine (Lyle) Schindler, Harvey, ND and Judy Heisler, Bismarck, ND; brothers Melvin (Becky) Heisler, Velva, ND and Thomas (Debbie) Heisler, Aberdeen, SD; many nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter Faye Marie; sister Lorraine Schmidtgal; brothers Eugene, Ewald, Arthur, Leonard, Marvin and Norbert Heisler and in-laws Loren and Anna Pellett. Casket Bearers will be, Shane, Christopher, Brandon, Alex and Matt Heisler, John Maritato, Nate Kegel and Greg Brower. Reading the Scriptures will be John Maritato and Dan Heisler and Gift Bearers will be Dan’s grandchildren Kyla, Corrine and Bryce with Isabelle Maritato as the Altar Server.