Dan Heimbuck, the son of George and Elizabeth (Roth) Heimbuck, was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on March 30, 1923 (along with his twin sister Lea Nuss), and passed away on October 20, 2013, age 90, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Dan graduated from Scottsbluff High School, having lettered in track. He was an avid jogger and athletic buff most of his life. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was a sergeant, providing communication between Air Corps and Infantry, providing information about whether the area was clear for bombing or strafing. Dan provided messages relating to troop movement and military activity, took part in the invasion of Sicily, and was involved in operations all the way up the “boot” of Italy. Dan also participated in the taking of the islands Corsica and Elba, allowing for aircraft activities behind the German line. The war ended first in Italy, and in view of Dan’s time served of over three years, he was returned to the United States for discharge.
Upon discharge, Dan married his longtime sweetheart, Esther Schield, on October 1, 1945. Soon after the marriage, they moved to Portland, Oregon.
Dan and Esther have two children. Their son Jeffrey (wife Caron) was born on August 7, 1946 and their daughter Janet Purkeypile (husband Robert) was born on March 27, 1949. There are six grandsons: Christopher, Jason, and Zachary Heimbuck, and Matthew, Josh, and Nathan Purkeypile, and two great-grandchildren: Scarlett Marie Purkeypile and Drake Robert Purkeypile.
Dan joined Portland Trust and Savings Bank in 1946 and retired on October 1, 1986. He became an officer of the bank at an early age. He was active in American Institute of Banking, becoming president of the Portland chapter. Because of this achievement, he persuaded the bank to allow him to attend the Pacific Northwest School of Banking at the University of Washington, from which he graduated. Dan was then transferred to Parkrose, Oregon as vice-president and manager. The bank now known as Oregon Bank acquired an independent Rogue Valley Bank in Medford, Oregon. Dan was asked to serve as vice-president of the Rogue Valley branch. After three years, Dan was called back to Portland as vice-president and manager of their main branch. The bank established a special commercial lending department whose clients had to have minimal credit needs of one million dollars, Dan himself working with clients whose needs were as high as sixty million dollars. Because of his management and commercial lending experience, the bank asked him to become vice-president and regional credit supervisor; half of their Oregon branches were under Dan’s supervision. Upon the bank’s acquisition by Bank of America, Dan decided to retire.
Dan felt that the community had given him so much that he wanted to give back as much as possible. Some of the ways he expressed his gratitude were:
President of Parkrose Chamber of Commerce
Member and board member of Parkrose Lions Club
Board member of NE YMCA
Board member of Metropolitan YMCA Board
Member of Medford Chamber of Commerce
Member of Medford Kiwanis Club
President and chairman of Board of Medford YMCA
Board chairman of Medford YMCA Capital Funds Campaign to remodel building
Member of Portland Chamber of Commerce and member of Trade and Commerce and Forestry Committee
Member of Portland Kiwanis Club – transferred to Cedar Hills Kiwanis Club
Member and treasurer of Senior Corp of retired executives
Board member of Metropolitan Portland YMCA
Further, as a testimony to the love and grace of God, Dan was baptized, confirmed, and married in Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He also served in the following capacities:
Member of Second German Evangelical Church of Portland, also serving as member and treasurer of the board, as a Sunday School teacher, and choir member
Ordained elder and board member of First Presbyterian Church of Medford, Oregon
Clerk of the Session, member of Personal Committee, Missions Committee, Foundations Committee, choir member for thirty-plus years at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Portland
Member of Sunset Presbyterian Church and was a member of their Care Group, Senior Activity Group, and Men’s Bible Study Group
In lieu of flowers, Dan’s family would be grateful for donations to either the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Institute.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18