William Heusser Jr.

The family was very active in the Swiss community in Portland. Growing up Willy loved animals and spent many summers and happy times at his grandparents’ farm in Deer Island, OR. He loved crawdad fishing in their creek and playing with the rabbits, goats and local bat population (he said at that time they didn’t have rabies).

During high school and his first years in college Willy learned the butcher’s trade at the side of his dad and uncle Erwin Heusser. They worked in downtown Portland boning livestock and would travel to Tillamook farms to do meat cutting on site.

He entered Portland’s Multnomah College in 1950 to ¬1952 for a diploma in electronics, broadcasting, radio, TV, transmission.

Military service followed when he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1953 where he successfully completed Power Man Course with diploma in Southwestern Signal Corps School at Camp San Luis Obispo, California. He served in 439th U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Korea until 1955.

Upon discharge he enrolled in Portland State University in preparation for transfer to Oregon State University where he graduated in 1959 with a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering and membership in Sigma Tau Engineer Honor Society.

In 1959 many companies were anxiously waiting to hire engineering graduates so Willy accepted a position at Datron Systems, in Portland, OR. The company changed hands to become Electronic Specialty Co.and then Iron Fireman Co.

In 1971 his first born son Willis (Billy) was presented to him by his wife, Phyllis.

In 1976 Willy decided a change in latitude would be a big advantage for him as he accepted a position at Guidance Technology, Inc., Santa Monica, CA as their Director Of Engineering.

In Southern California he found two loves of his life, his 1960 Ferrari 250 GT and his sweetheart Darlene Aikin. One he completely restored, the other he married in 1979. They created their home in Canoga Park, CA as he moved to a position at Litton, Guidance and Control Systems Division. Marc was born in 1983, in Martin 1989.

All through his life Willy spent his free time restoring cars, remodeling houses and participating in the Swiss community up and down the West Coast. In Portland he belonged to dance and ski clubs. In Southern California he was active in the Classic Car Club and on the board of the Pierce Arrow Club of So.Calif. He loved to open his home to family members from Switzerland and dinner parties for nearby friends.

Willy is survived by his wife of 41 years, Darlene, three sons Willis (Ann), Marc, Martin, grandkids Heidi and Johannes, his sister Dolores Myers of Portland and her children Robert, Richard, Ronald and Susan, as well as his many cousins in Switzerland.

A Celebration of Life will be held closer to Willy's birthday of July 13 in 2021. Arrangements will be announced next spring.