Obituary for William "Bill" Heideger
Professor William “Bill” Joseph Heideger passed away peacefully on May 3, 2022, surrounded by his family. He was 89.
Professor Heideger was born September 17, 1932 to Joseph and Helen Heideger in Beaver, PA. He was an Eagle Scout and high school valedictorian and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University where he was also valedictorian. He earned both his Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University.
In 1957 he joined the faculty of the University of Washington’s Chemical Engineering Department where he served as a professor for 41 years, and then became an Emeritus Faculty member upon retirement.
Bill enjoyed teaching and advising both his undergraduate and graduate students,
and held not only regular office hours, but in later years had a monthly Friday pizza night at home for any of his students that wanted extra help.
His early research in the field of mass transfer focused on the pulp, paper and petroleum industries. In the 1970s he turned his research direction to examine how chemicals are transferred in and out of the human body, particularly bone marrow. He was invited to present papers on the subject at numerous international symposiums, but he was particularly pleased when he was invited to team with medical researchers at England’s Oxford Bone Research Institute. This work was foundational in early treatment of leukemia as well as osteoporosis.
In 1958, Bill married Neola Sandvik, and they had three sons, Clark, Robert and Ric. They divorced, and he later married Janet Branson who had two sons, Mark and Doug. They had 43 wonderful years together, filled with a house full of boisterous boys, numerous trips to Europe and South America, where they enjoyed hiking and photographing their adventures.
In 1999, they left Seattle and retired to a home they built on Whidbey Island, where they continued their love of hiking and traveling.
Bill was an active member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and Central Whidbey Lions Club.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janet, sons Clark (Lisa), Rob (Teri) and Ric (Marilyn),
grandchildren William, Michael, Daniel, Christian, and Elizabeth Heideger; stepsons Mark and Doug Branson and step grandchildren Leah, Melissa, Sarah, Maire, Bernadette, Catherine, Lucy and Kyle Branson.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 1 pm at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. A private family burial service was held earlier. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oak Harbor Lutheran Church or Central Whidbey Lions Club.
Professor Heideger was born September 17, 1932 to Joseph and Helen Heideger in Beaver, PA. He was an Eagle Scout and high school valedictorian and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University where he was also valedictorian. He earned both his Masters and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University.
In 1957 he joined the faculty of the University of Washington’s Chemical Engineering Department where he served as a professor for 41 years, and then became an Emeritus Faculty member upon retirement.
Bill enjoyed teaching and advising both his undergraduate and graduate students,
and held not only regular office hours, but in later years had a monthly Friday pizza night at home for any of his students that wanted extra help.
His early research in the field of mass transfer focused on the pulp, paper and petroleum industries. In the 1970s he turned his research direction to examine how chemicals are transferred in and out of the human body, particularly bone marrow. He was invited to present papers on the subject at numerous international symposiums, but he was particularly pleased when he was invited to team with medical researchers at England’s Oxford Bone Research Institute. This work was foundational in early treatment of leukemia as well as osteoporosis.
In 1958, Bill married Neola Sandvik, and they had three sons, Clark, Robert and Ric. They divorced, and he later married Janet Branson who had two sons, Mark and Doug. They had 43 wonderful years together, filled with a house full of boisterous boys, numerous trips to Europe and South America, where they enjoyed hiking and photographing their adventures.
In 1999, they left Seattle and retired to a home they built on Whidbey Island, where they continued their love of hiking and traveling.
Bill was an active member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church and Central Whidbey Lions Club.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janet, sons Clark (Lisa), Rob (Teri) and Ric (Marilyn),
grandchildren William, Michael, Daniel, Christian, and Elizabeth Heideger; stepsons Mark and Doug Branson and step grandchildren Leah, Melissa, Sarah, Maire, Bernadette, Catherine, Lucy and Kyle Branson.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 1 pm at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church. A private family burial service was held earlier. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oak Harbor Lutheran Church or Central Whidbey Lions Club.