Mass of Christian Burial for Donna J. Heisler, 85, of Herreid, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Herreid with Fr. Tom Clement officiating. Burial will be at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, January 19, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., with a wake at 7:00 p.m., at the church. Donna passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

A twin at birth, Donna Jean Heisler was born at the Eureka Hospital on her mother's birthday, May 17, 1929, the daughter of Joseph and Adeline (Olsen) Seiler. Along with her twin brother Donald, and younger sister Barbara, she grew up on the family farm four miles north and west of Herreid. She attended country school before graduating from Herreid High School in 1947.

On February 21, 1949, she married Leslie Heisler at Herreid. The couple lived for a time in Mound City but in 1950 after their daughter Pamela was born they moved to Igloo, South Dakota, where Les worked as an explosive ammunitions handler foreman. They returned to Herreid to farm in 1952 just prior to the birth of their second child, Joe.

The couple was active in Jaycees and Jaycettes, as well as several other civic organizations, and traveled extensively across the U.S. While Donna continued to work at home and on the farm, following the birth of their youngest son John in 1960, she worked part-time at the Herreid Sales Barn, and then for an auctioneer service, before eventually joining the U.S. Postal Service in Herreid. There she went on to become Senior Clerk and, for a time, Acting Postmaster before her retirement many years later.

In 1979, the couple built a new home in Herreid and moved into town, where Les eventually was elected mayor, serving 9 years. The couple was also active in the Democratic Party and was friends to Congressmen, Senators and Governors, including Democratic Presidential candidate, the late U. S Senator George McGovern. Even after Les' sudden death in 1994, Donna continued to contribute to the party and its candidates.

Donna remained devoted to the church as well; she was a member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Herreid, its Altar Society, and several other church activities. She was also a charitable woman; she donated to several good causes in Herreid. In 1995, in honor of her late husband, a longtime member of Alcoholic Anonymous, she helped establish the Heisler Prevention, Treatment and Aftercare Fund at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to provide treatment services to youth and adults at risk of chemical dependency. The center was established at Turning Point of SD, later named Volunteers of America, Dakotas, where daughter Pam was then Executive Director.

Donna especially loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and enjoyed her frequent visits to their homes in Sioux Falls, Iowa, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. She died in their loving arms on Wednesday, January 14, at Sanford Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD, following a sudden illness.

In addition to her husband Les, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Donald Seiler, and her sister Barbara Hieb. Grateful to have shared her life are: one daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and Daniel Bollinger of Sioux Falls, SD and their children Tamie (Michael) Grochala of Maple Grove, MN, and Michael (Katie) Bollinger of Decorah, IA; a son and daughter-in-law Joe and Theresa Heisler of Dedham, MA, and their children Katrina and Timothy, also of Dedham; a son and daughter-in-law John and Molly Heisler of Sioux Falls, SD, and their children Justin of Decorah, IA, Jordan of Fort Collins, CO, and Christian, of Sioux Falls; also survived by great-grandchildren Thomas Grochala, Joseph Grochala, Oliver Bollinger and Adeline Bollinger, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Michael's Catholic Church, Herreid, SD 57632, OR, to the Herreid Community Foundation, Herreid, SD 57632.