William B. Heisler

Bill was born to Arthur Bernhardt Heisler (A.B.) and Mary Catherine Neil Heisler (Mamie) in the house at 509 S. Main St. in Pinckneyville next door to Mamie's parents - the same house in which he grew up, and which his parents owned until their passing. He graduated from Pinckneyville Community High School in 1942. After a a brief sojourn in college he was drafted into the U.S.Army and served in an artillery unit in Europe from 1943 until the end of WWII.

After the war he resumed his college career, graduating with a BS in Chemical Engineering from The University of Missouri at Rolla (Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy) in 1950. after graduating, he went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad as a chemical engineer, working on formulations for diesel fuel as the railroad industry transitioned from steam power to diesel/electric power in the mid-20th century. While working for MoPac and living in St. Louis, he met and married Melba Jean Fulton (also of Pinckneyville) in 1951. Melba was also living in St. Louis and working as an executive assistant at Monsanto.

When Monsanto created the Chemstrand company to begin manufacturing nylon yarn, Bill was recruited as a chemical engineer to learn the process of manufacturing nylon. His oldest son, Steven Grant, was born in January 1954 while he was finishing up his training in Chattanooga, TN. Bill's career with Monsanto began in the nylon plant in Pensacola and took him around the world. After seven years in Pensacola, assignments followed in Greenwood, SC, a move to the Central Engineering Division in St. Louis, and seven years in London's Central Engineering office.While in London, Bill and Melba became universally know as Padre and Madre, thanks to one of second son Gary's high school friends. The names stuck, and they continue to be called Madre and Padre by all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1977 Padre was transferred back to Pensacola where he retired in 1982 after a 29 year career with Monsanto. In Pensacola, Padre became very active in the Episcopal Church, serving on the vestry and at various times as the Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and Treasurer at St. John's Episcopal Church in Warrington. He was also extremely active in Kiwanis, mentoring elementary students and doing vaccination drives for elementary schools.

In 2003, Madre and Padre moved from Warrington to Azalea Trace. She preceded him in death in January 2006. Bill is survived by his two sons Steven Grant (Leesa Adams) of Titusville FL and Gary Fulton, of Grand Ledge, MI; six grandchildren - Gary's children Arron Heisler, Dustin Heisler, and Lindsay Heisler, Steven's children Christopher Wilson, Kathryn Heisler Wyche (Joshua) and Mary Heisler; and six great grandchildren - Audrey Wilson, James Wilson, twins Henry and Graham Wilson, Harper Wyche, and Lindsay's daughter Mercie.

Services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday March 3, at Bayview Fisher-Pou chapel with interment to follow at Bayview cemetery. Visitation for the family will be from 9:00-10:00 am. Visitation for friends and public from 10:00-11:00 am.