Oran Leon Wiseheart

Oran Leon Wiseheart, age 93, of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away on October 21, 2021. He was born in Iola, Illinois on June 19, 1928. He persevered as a young man and joined the Army at the age of eighteen. After the Army, Oran served bravely in the Navy during the Korean War on the Destroyer the U.S.S. Smalley. Following the Korean War, he worked in the space industry in Florida and was credited with developing a tracking/communication system for missiles for NASA. Oran was highly intelligent. After working in Florida, he moved his family to Knoxville, TN where he worked and retired from TVA as an Electrical Engineer.

Oran was married to the love of his life and a true saint, Julia Regina Simmons in Melbourne, Florida in 1955. They were known by their nicknames: Ollie and Rege. Together they raised four children. Later in life, Ollie diligently cared for Rege for fifteen years as she battled Alzheimer's disease until she passed away in 2004.

Ollie loved raising award-winning roses, planting and keeping a beautiful garden, inventing gadgets, winning at cards, traveling long distances on riverboats, and bowling. He also enjoyed drinking a few Budweiser beers, walking at UT Gardens, studying Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth and history. He loved observing and studying nature. He was especially proud that his grandfather, George H. Wiseheart, who served for the North during the Civil War, lived through many battles including Shiloh, Vicksburg, and Gettysburg. His grandfather also lived long enough to attend the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Oran was also proud that his grandmother, Gilliam Craig Wiseheart, was a second cousin to Abraham Lincoln.

He is preceded in death by wife, Julia Regina Simmons; brother, George R. Wiseheart; half-sisters, Erma Carroll, Amanda Shaffer, and Maylene Robinson.

He is survived by children, Diane Hamilton (Ward), Linda Wiseheart (Joe Jackson), Suzy Wiseheart, and Paul Wiseheart; grandchildren, Katy Dlugas Hungerford (Gene), Allison Hamilton Becha (Tarik), Deborah Huddleston Crouse (Dustin), Heather Mason Hamilton, and Madeline Regina Wiseheart; great-grandchildren, Otto Hungerford, Norah Jane Crouse and Spencer Crouse; Oran's loving half-sister, Donna Holleman (age 98) who also served in the Navy. Oran also has lots of Florida, Tennessee and Missouri relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank Nancy Carrell Dallas, Oran's great-niece, for keeping in touch with and being so kind to him for many, many decades. The family would also like to thank all of Oran's neighbors and friends. They would especially like to thank Smoky Mountain Hospice (East) and his private and hospice caregivers: Desiree, Annie, Brittany, Hannah, Shay, Chaplain Kim, Jacki, Brittney and Pam.

A private service for the family has already been held. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to the UT Gardens, 2518 Jacob Dr. Knoxville, TN 37996 or Alzheimer's Tennessee, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Family and friends are invited to share fond memories and sign the online guestbook at www.berryfuneralhome.com