Keith Heiniger – Headed West (1931-2015)

KEITH D. HEINIGER 1931 – 2015

Keith D. Heiniger was born in Seneca, KS November 29, 1931  and left us on January 10, 2015. The son of William and Helen Heiniger, he was the youngest of 4 boys.  He graduated from Seneca Public High School, recieved a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in Geodesy from Ohio State University.  He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity and Sigma Gamma Epsilon honorary society. Keith  recieved his commission in the United States Air Force in 1954.

As a Regular Commissioned Officer, he was involved in numerous world wide assignements cumulating his career with a Command Pilot Flight Rating and as the Director of Operational Intelligence, USAF Europe.  During the Vietnam conflict, he was assigned to the F-100 MIsty Fast FACS Squadron as a fighter pilot  where he successfully flew 356 aerial combat mission accumulating over 900 hours in aerial combat.

He was higly decorated for his actions in aerial combat with the Silver Star for gallantry, four Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism and fifteen Air Medals for meritorious actions.  He retired from the Air Force in 1977 and became a member of the Order of Daedalians military pilots association.  He became involved  in professional land surveying in the Cheyenne, WY area and retired from the Wyoming DOT as a pilot in 1999.

He married Margaret “Peggy” Shipman in 1953.  He is survived by his wife and 4 daughters, Victoria Carlisle of Omaha NE, Christine Johnson of Reno, NV Lauri Heiniger of Parker, CO and Kelli Starr Peters of Las Vegas, NV.  He has 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his grandson Sean Johnson and Jennifer Starr.