Leslie Melvin Heisz, known as “Uncle Bud” or “Les”, died at the age of 90, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016.
He was born Jan. 12, 1926, in Belleville, the son of Roy and Beulah (Campbell) Heisz.
He attended rural Jewell County elementary schools and Mankato High School, graduating on June 4, 1944. The day after his graduation, he picked up his induction notice for the U.S. Army, which he already knew was waiting for him prior to graduation at the post office. He served in World War II at several locations as a mail clerk until his honorable discharge on May 7, 1946, after which he immediately applied to college to study for the ministry in the United Methodist Church.
Leslie attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina as a pre-ministerial student. He married Edith DeMoss on June, 5, 1949, and following his graduation in June 1950, they traveled to New Jersey to begin his studies at the United Methodist Seminary, Drew Theological School, Drew University. In addition to working on his ministerial degree, Leslie served 3 small churches around Colesville, N.J., where he and Edith lived.
He graduated from Drew Theological School with a masters of divinity degree on June 4, 1954. After graduation, Leslie and Edith returned to Kansas, where he spent the rest of his life serving many United Methodist churches in the Kansas West Conference.
Leslie served on the Maize school board and was very proud of his involvement in the building of Maize High School in the early 1980s. Leslie was active and enjoyed his time in the Lions Club, 60 years, and the Masonic Lodge in which he was a member for almost 70 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Beulah Heisz; and sister, Ella Blake.
He is survived by wife, Edith Heisz; sons, Kenneth (Leslie) Heisz and Keith Heisz; grandsons, Hunter, Michael and Evan; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 1pm -5pm at Petersen Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, 1200 Boyd Ave. in Newton. Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Courtland.
Memorial contributions may be made to Asbury Park, Good Samaritan Fund or Trinity Heights United Methodist Church Foundation Fund.
