Walter Heidlage
COLUMBIA — Walter Heidlage died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011. He was 97.
He was born Aug. 14, 1914, in Newton County to John B. and Louisa Warth Heidlage.
Mr. Heidlage attended the MU College of Agriculture, and he graduated in 1936 with a degree in poultry husbandry. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity. He joined the United States Department of Agriculture soil conservation service. He became the county extension agent for Osage and, later, Bates counties.
He became district director for the Cooperative Extension Service in Columbia in 1957. Mr. Heidlage continued his education in the summers in Madison, Wis., and Silver Spring, Md., and he was awarded a doctoral degree from Cornell University in 1966. He was an associate professor emeritus at MU, and he retired after 37 years of service with the USDA and the state of Missouri.
An active member of Sacred Heart Parish, Mr. Heidlage was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. He was ordained in 1979 to the diaconate of the Catholic diocese of Jefferson City.
Mr. Heidlage is survived by his sons, J. Francis Heidlage, of Durham, N.C., and Robert Heidlage; grandsons, Michael Heidlage and David Heidlage; and great-granddaughters, Alissa and Erica.
His wife, Sarah (Ostner) Heidlage, and four siblings died earlier.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1115 Locust St. Services will follow at the church. A private burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 Business Loop 70 W.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, 903 Bernadette Dr., Columbia, MO 65203.
Tributes can be posted at memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.
