1940-2025
John Lynn Heiland, 85, peacefully passed away on Nov. 15, 2025. John was a devoted husband, father and friend whose life touched all who knew him. John’s journey was marked by a deep sense of family, service and an unwavering spirit of adventure that defined the way he lived and loved.
Born in 1940 in Panora, John was the son of Helen Knowlton Heiland and Billie B. Heiland and was raised within the close-knit Panora community.
John graduated from Panora High School, where he forged lifelong friendships. Following high school, John attended Northwest Missouri State and graduated from Drake University.
Answering the call to serve, John joined the United States Army in 1963 and was stationed at Fort Sherman defensive base in the Panama Canal, where he was a Hawk Missile launch controller.
John’s greatest joy was his family. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Susan Teale, and together they raised five children, building a home filled with laughter, warmth and adventure. As a devoted father, John cherished every moment with his loved ones, from cross-country road trips to days spent boating on Lake Panorama, creating treasured memories and many funny stories. John and Susan were happily married for 48 years until her passing in 2013.
John built his career in finance and sales and was a member of the Masons and the Elk organizations.
As we remember John, we honor his legacy of joy and love. He leaves behind fond memories and a grateful family. John will be dearly missed, but his warmth, wisdom, sense of humor and memories of his contagious laugh will live on.
John is survived by a loving family — daughters, Leza (Charles) Woods of South Carolina, Mari (Jason) Wolf of Lake Panorama, and Kayla Parker of Adel; sons, Ryan Heiland of Maryville, Missouri, and Cody (Jewelyn) Heiland of Rockford, Illinois; 11 grandchildren; sister, Joan Millhollin (John) of Yale; brothers-in-law, Frank (Sandi) Teale of Panora, John (Kris) Teale of Maryville, Missouri; and sister-in-law, Sheri Heiland (Jim) of Guthrie Center. He was preceded in death by wife, Susan; his parents; and his brother, James Heiland.
Visitation is Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at 1 p.m., with the funeral immediately following at 2 p.m. Services will be held at the Twigg Funeral Home in Panora. Burial to follow services at the Brethren Cemetery in Panora.
Memorials to be donated at the discretion of the family.