JERRY HEILIG, A FORMER WSPC COMMITTEE MEMBER AND FORMER CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL POTATO PROMOTION BOARD, PASSED AWAY ON FEBRUARY 1, 2024

It’s with tremendous sadness that we have lost another great leader in the Washington State Potato industry.  Jerry Heilig, a former WSPC Committee member and former Chair of the National Potato Promotion Board, passed away on February 1, 2024.  Jerry was very active in national and international potato promotions.  We will miss his wisdom, his calm disposition, and his warm smile and laughter.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his dear wife Marian and all of Jerry’s family and friends. 

Jerry Heilig Obituary
Jerry Heilig, 81

Jerry Heilig, 81, a resident of Moses Lake since November of 1952 passed away at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, WA on Thursday, February 1, 2024. He was born the youngest of two children to Herschel and Marguerite Heilig in Heyburn, ID in 1942. At the age of 10, Jerry's family moved to Moses Lake, WA. His family was among the first pioneers to come to the Columbia Basin to develop land in the irrigation project. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1960.

He was a 2nd generation potato farmer on his family farm that was established in 1952. Jerry was one of the original founders of the Potato Growers of WA, also chairman and member of the US Potato Board, where he was known for his outstanding negotiation skills. He worked side by side with his father and passed that same passion of farming on to his son.

Jerry was husband, dad, grandfather, brother, son, friend, golfer, referee, coach, and mentor. He began coaching little league baseball when his sons played, and he dedicated over a decade to coaching. Jerry was very active in officiating high school football & basketball, as well as college basketball and in the Big Sky Conference. He also loved traveling every chance he could.

One never had to guess about Jerry's opinion on any subject. Whether it was about agriculture, politics, or sports, there was never any doubt about where he stood. Jerry was a great man of honesty & integrity.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Marguerite Heilig and grandson Kreig Heilig.

He is survived by his wife, Marian Heilig, his children Kory Heilig (Cindy), Kerry Heilig, Kris Heilig-Ralph, and step daughter Rhonda Alvarado (Dee Ray), 9 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He was also survived by his sister Joyce Smith.  A funeral service will be held at the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Later that afternoon there will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00 p.m. at the Moses Lake Country Club.  Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's.