Obituaries
George D. Heiser, 57
George D. Heiser, M.Ed., R.T. (R) (QM), age 57, died at his home in Strasburg on Saturday, February 18, 2012. He was the loving husband of Donna L. Morgans Heiser for 35 years. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Ralph H. and Bertha Marie Shissler Heiser.
A 1972 graduate of Lampeter-Strasburg High School, George earned his certificate from the Lancaster General Hospital Radiologic Technology Program. He then completed his undergraduate degree from Elizabethtown College and his Master’s in Education Degree from Penn State University. George worked for 18 years at LGH in various roles, ending his tenure as the program director of the Radiologic Technology Program. Having a passion for teaching, George currently was the Program Director of Radiologic Technology at Lancaster Campus of Harrisburg Area Community College. On February 6, 2012, George was presented an Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development in the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin.
George was an avid hunter, he played the guitar, and he loved spending time with his family. He was a life member of the NRA and the Vasculitis Foundation.
Surviving George in addition to his wife Donna are two daughters, Nichole A. Heiser, Mount Joy, and Renée L. wife of William Bevak, III, Lancaster; four grandchildren, Dominic A., Alexander W., Zachary C. and Shawn M. Bevak; and two brothers, Donald R., husband of Orlena K. Witmer Heiser, Lancaster, and Robert J., husband of Carol A. Groff Heiser, Strasburg.
A Funeral will be held 11 AM Wednesday, February 22, 2012, at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA, with the Rev. Kirk A. Griffin officiating. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 9-11 AM at the funeral home. Interment in Conestoga Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Vasculitis Foundation, PO Box 28660, Kansas City, MO 64188-8660 or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. To send the family online condolences, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100
Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page
Donna and girls — so sorry for your loss. Donna, I always enjoyed your "George" stories through the years and I know he’ll be missed by his girls. I am praying for your family as you go through your grief.
Much love — Chris Hess
Donna, Nicole, and Renee
My sincere sympathy to your family. I was so sorry to learn of George’s passing but know he is in a better place. His smile and kind words will be missed!
Keith Scheuing
Donna and family,
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of George. Our thoughts are with you and the rest of the family. I hope that being surrounded by family and friends will bring you much comfort at this most sorrowful time. George will truly be missed. Penny and Blaine Shissler
I was a student of George’s at Brandywine Hospital from 1994-1996. He was a wonderful teacher and a good man. I am so incredibly sorry to hear of his passing. His family will be in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Sheets
Family and Friends –
I am honored to have heard about George through my mother who was his colleague at HACC. She speaks highly of his dedication to his family and his passion for educating others in his profession. His educational philosophy is one that should be emulated by teachers alike. I know his spirit will forever be alive among the students, faculty, and staff at HACC that share the same passion for the profession and he will continue to inspire great things among you all. I wish all that are closest my sincere sympathies.
-Emily Hildebrand
Our thoughts and prayers are sent to you at this time. We remember George’s kind and gentle spirit. We know you will miss this wonderful husband, father, brother and uncle and hope you will feel God’s gentle comfort.
Larry and Sue Witmer
Donna & Family,
I know that George will be truly missed by all whose lives he has touched. He was my clinical instructor at LGH and I had the pleasure of working with him again through the program at HACC as an assistant clinical instructor at Ephrata Community Hospital. I found it wonderful that he took the time to visit here and listen to my concerns and suggestions for the students and the program. He had a quality to him that cannot be replaced or duplicated. I love the photo you chose, it is a perfect "image" to remember him by!
You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers today and in the months ahead.
Gwyn Williams
Dear Heiser Family,
Please accept our condolences on the loss of George. I know he was greatly loved and that he will be missed every day. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Josh & Janene Mussmon & Family
My condolences to the Heiser family. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. As a recent graduate and student under Mr. Heiser’s direction, I know he will be sorely missed. He was an excellent instructor and his passion for the radiology program showed. It has been a privilege to have known him.
Sincerely,
Allison Erickson
From Jackie Almeida, former Rad-Tech student of George’s program.
Please accept my deepest condolences on this time of grieving and loss of a great man and professor. I consider it an honor to have been his student and having been part his radiology program. He was an immense loss to the profession and this world and I feel great sadness that he left us so soon but also feel relieved that he’s in haven watching all over us.
Sincerely,
Jackie
As a student of George’s, I can honestly say he was a great man who made a huge impact on my life. He was a wonderful teacher. May God be with his family as i’m sure this is a hard time for all of you. I pray that your grief is within God’s hands and that he helps all of his family through this tough time. (I graduated from the HACC program 2009-2010).
Chelsie Michaels
Dear Donna and Family,
So sorry to hear of George’s passing. He was the clinical instructor at LGH when I went through the Rad Tech Program from 1982-84. Such a nice person and very patient instructor. I can still see him in his lab coat armed with his clipboard ready to test! Very fond memories.
Sincerely,
Dot Steller Artz
Donna and girls,
I just read the message from Janelle about George. I am so sorry for your loss. He will be remembered. I will keep you in my prayers as you go through your grieving. May you remember all the good memories.
Mary Halupa
Donna,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers.
Dennis Richling
George was an all around genuine man. He was a great teacher to me and led a great example. His teachings can live through all the students. My sympathy to the family and close friends of George. I believe it’s fair to say, "Only the good die young."
God Bless
Matt L. Coffroth
Dear Donna, Nicole, Rene,
My heartfelt thoughts are with all of you. I know you will find comfort in good memories. During this very difficult time, please know that tears are healthy, laughter is allowed and your love will keep you strong.
Sincerely,
Mary Best
I was very sad to hear of the death of George. I’ve been working on the Lancaster Campus for 10 years and I have known George the whole time he has been here. George was a warm caring and giving person. He would go out of his way to help in whatever way he could.
I know that his loss is a great one in your family and he will be missed on campus. Personally I will always remember his wonderful smile and easy way about him. We ate lunch together and spoke of many things. We lived in Strasburg for 15 years and once ended up at the Bob Evans restaurant the same time George and his wife were there. The lights went out and we had just gotten our meal and George ended up with cold food items. He found the experience to be an unusual but funny experience.
I pray God will comfort you and your family. George is resting now.
Sharing in your loss,
Fay Snyder
To Donna and Family,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of George, loving husband and father. Although no words can really help to ease the loss, just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer.
Kim & Dave Flowers
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Remember all of the good times spent as a family and those are what will help you thru in the trying times ahead.
Cathy Kinser
Donna – I was so sorry to hear about George’s passing. I am thinking of you fondly and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Cathy Mirolo
I have known George since he came to LGH as a student. I worked with him as a technologist and was an instructor for the students when he directed the Rad Tech program. Through all those encounters he was professional, detail oriented, conscientious and respectful. Producing high quality diagnostic images was always his goal. Personally – he was extremely kind to the patients and just a really nice guy!
I consider it a privilege to have known him, worked with him and have him as a colleague & a friend. The picture you chose for this notice is wonderful – it captures his joyful spitit!
My sincere sympathies to Donna and George’s family.
hi just wanted to tell you i knew george since he was my freshman student at LGH I also worked with him at HACC as a CI instructor he touched the lives of many of us at HACC i will sorely miss him
My thoughts and prays
Danielle Peters
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family. May God walk with you through this time of deep pain. I’m praying for each and everyone of you.
Fatima Wilson
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Gina Bupp
My sincere sympathy on the passing of George. He will be missed by the many students, faculty and staff whose lives he touched. We were fortunate to have him at HACC these many years and our successful Radiologic Tech program is due to his dedication and hard work. He leaves a legacy of many successful graduates. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Donna, Nichole & Renee:
I wish to extend my deepest sympathies for your loss. I can’t begin to imagine what you are going through. Please know that I will continue to keep you and your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. My wish is for you to find comfort, strength and peace in the days ahead, and may fond memories of better times be vibrant and everlasting.
Sincerely,
David E. Kenney
VP Human Resources – CoreSource
400 Field Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
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C: 847.393.3386
David.Kenney@coresource.com
Dear Donna, Nicole and Renee,
I was saddened to hear of George’s death. When I moved to Strasburg in 1968, George was one of my first friends. We often sat together on the bus over the next four years. We were in scouting together and shared many adventures. We had many long talks. Somehow he got me up in front of 100’s of scouts at the camporee to lead singing while he played guitar. He was a loyal friend and I missed him when I went away to college and then settled elsewhere. It is comforting to realize through the other condolences how many lives he has touched in the years since.
Gary Nicholson
George was such a genuine person. He loved what he did and it showed. As my instructor at HACC, he always encouraged us to do our best and to set high standards of quality in our films for our patients. His sweet personality and his funny stories made class time less overwhelming. I cannot imagine the pain of losing him at such a young age, and your family will remain in my prayers. His legacy will be carried by each of his students and co-workers in our work. I rarely perform an x- ray where I don’t have a "Becca" or "George" lesson come to mind. He truly helped to shape us into the technologists we are today.
Ashley Bucks R. T. (R)(M)(BD)