George Joseph Heiner

George Joseph Heiner, 74, died at home on Feb. 1, surrounded by family.

George was born in Astoria on Dec. 14, 1949, to George and Irene Heiner.  George grew up in Alderbrook, and enjoyed the sounds of boats on the water and ships dropping anchor.

He graduated from Astoria High School in 1968, and later from Oregon State University in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree.

He married the love of his life, Pat Hendrickson, on Dec. 28, 1972, in Vancouver, Washington.  After living in Portland, they made their home in Corvallis.  In 1982, they moved back to Astoria.  He began his career in 1985 at Clatsop Community College in the general education department, where he retired in 2016.

He enjoyed working in the yard with his wife and growing raspberries, which they used to make jam every year. Some of his favorite activities were photography, clam digging, rowing, looking at the stars, birds and surf fishing.

When he turned 60, he started doing annual physical challenges, some of which included climbing the column 2,000 times, walking 2,000 miles on the Astoria Riverwalk and biking 5,000 miles.  These were a few of the ones he was the proudest of completing.  He also had a rowing streak of 525 consecutive days.

He enjoyed watching his son play sports and supporting other family members’ activities.

In June 2023, he officially became a member of the Chinook Indian Nation.

He was preceded in a death by his wife, Patricia; his parents, George and Irene Heiner; sister-in-law, Joyce Brown; and brothers-in-law, Loyd Warren and Brian Mart.

He is survived by his son, Charlie; daughter-in-law, Carolyn; and grandchildren, Amelia and Ayden; sister, Sandra Warren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Brad and Nancy Junes, Gary and Nancy Brown and Elaine Mart; nieces and nephews, Jennifer, Theresa, Craig, Mike, Tricia, Scott, Steve and Tania; and numerous cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A celebration of life be held at a future date.