Joseph Bernard Heye

1939 - 2024

Joseph Bernard Heye

February 9, 1939 - July 25, 2024

Olympia, Washington - Joseph Bernard Heye passed away peacefully at his home in Olympia on Thursday, July 25th with family by his side. Joe was humble, kind, and a devout Catholic, attending St. Mary's Catholic Church in South Tacoma. He was born in Olympia on Feb 9th, 1939, the son of Adolph and Agnes Heye, the first of four children.

Joe attended grade school at St. Michael's Catholic School and for high school, went on to attend St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, WA with the intention of possibly joining the priesthood. He continued in the seminary until he completed a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. He decided not to go into the priesthood and left the seminary in 1961. At that time, the conflict in Vietnam was escalating with the beginning of the Army draft. Joe decided to join the Navy and served as an officer from 1962 to 1967 as a Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot on the Aircraft Carrier USS Yorktown, in the Vietnam War.

He retired from active duty in 1967 and was hired by Northwest Airlines as a Commercial Airline Pilot where he worked for the next 29 years until his retirement in 1996. He remained in the Navy Reserve until 1970.

Also, in 1967, he married the love of his life, Sherry Pfleiderer Brown. Sherry was a young widow with 2 children from her previous marriage. Joe and Sherry had 3 more children, and together raised a family of 5 children. Joe was a loving husband and father. He and Sherry were happily married for 57 years.

While in the Navy, Joe was stationed in San Diego and moved to Minnesota after being hired by Northwest Airlines. He returned to the Seattle area in 1968 and resided in Renton for 7 years. Joe had a desire for the country life and bought a home in Olympia with 15 acres in 1975 to become a gentleman farmer, where he lived for the next 49 years until the day he passed. He enjoyed life on his farm, growing a garden, riding his tractor and feeding the birds and squirrels. Joe grew up in a large, extended family and loved spending time with them. He was also an avid reader and throughout his life enjoyed golfing, fishing, playing cards with his relatives, and relaxing with his family at Black Lake.

He is preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Agnes Heye, his brother George Heye, his grandson Konner House, his in-laws Hugh Pfleiderer and Doris Pfleiderer Sapien, his brothers-in-law George Neff, Stanley Lash and Spencer Pfleiderer, his nephew Greg Neff and his niece Gretchen Neff.

Joe is survived by his wife, Sherry, son Charles Heye, daughter Lori Grossi (Joe), daughter Kristine House (Kevin), son Kevin Heye (Melissa), daughter Kelly Kolb (Darin), brother Tom Heye, sister Barb Neff and sister-in-law Sue Heye. His surviving grandchildren are Edmund Heye (Lucia), Kora House, Rosa Grossi, Maria Grossi, Claire Heye, Hannah Kolb, Kailey Kolb, Makenzie Kolb, Justin Kolb, Jessie Kolb, and Reese Kolb. He also has 3 great grandchildren Emmett Heye, Emilia Heye and Elliott Heye.

A funeral will be held on August 7th at 11:00 a.m. with a Traditional Latin Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 757 138th St. S, Tacoma, WA 98444. The Rosary will be held at 10:30 a.m., August 7th, preceding mass. Following the funeral on August 7th, a Reception and Celebration of Life will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Heye's Residence in Olympia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Mary's Academy at St. Mary's Catholic Church.