US Army Spec 4 Viet Nam Veteran Bill Heister leaves us, another of our brave boys gone too soon.

Kirkwood friends we have lost another brave Viet Nam veteran, with last night's (1/27/26) death of Bill Heister. (Joseph W. Heister III)  Thank you to Roxanne Guels Rassi, who knew and dated Bill at KHS, and who is in touch with Bill's daughter Melissa, for letting me know of his illness a few weeks ago and his death today. Our late classmate Ardy Stanfield also dated Bill, but I am told the girls did not date him at the same time! :-)) Bill was a 2 time Purple Heart recipient, still bearing leftover shrapnel after all these years. Note in the article he was only 21 when getting that second Purple Heart.  Here is an article Rox sent some time ago and it's posted elsewhere on this blog. Rox reports that he was living in St. Peters near Melissa and Bill also had two sons, Michael & Matthew, several grandchildren and most recently 2 great grandchildren! Bill and his first wife had divorced and his second wife died some years ago.  Thanks again Roxanne for being in touch, and for caring. Here below the photo is his obituary:

  

 

Joseph William “Bill” Heister III, age 79, passed away peacefully early in the morning of January 28th, 2026. Born on December 5th, 1946, in Lawton, Oklahoma, Bill was the son of Joseph and Dorothy Heister. 

Bill graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1965 held a few jobs after high school until he was then drafted to serve in the US Army in Spring of 1967 until honorably discharged with several awards including two purple hearts after 2 years of service.

Bill is survived by his three adult children and their spouses Melissa (Dale) Kinion, Michael Heister and Matthew (Lori) Heister, their mother and Bill’s first wife Susan “Diann” Heister-Guelker. His grandchildren, Courtney (Tommi) Stone, Daisy (Sam) Webster, Landon Kinion, Jai Heister and Luke Heister as well as his new great grandchildren Theo Stone and Melody Webster. He is also leaving behind sister Barb Feldmann and brother Brian (Michelle) Heister. 

 He was preceded in death by his second wife, Martha Bradler and both parents.

To honor him, his service is being planned for the spring at Jefferson Barracks to be with his fellow fallen service brothers and sisters. The service will be for family and close friends, and they will be notified of details.