Allan Heise was a quiet, conservative, and traditional man who shared so much with many people. He was a dedicated and caring son to his mother. He was a loyal and loving husband to his wife Hanni for 52 years. He was a supportive, loving father. As a teacher, he was dedicated to sparking the love of language and reading in his students. He had a very eclectic variety of interests ranging from reading about the fine points of Lutheran theology, enjoying English poetry, teaching American literature, and listening to just about any and all German music.
Born January 30, 1934, as the youngest of his parents' five boys, he was known as 'Sonny' while growing up. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith and it proved to be a major influence to his personality and ethics his whole life. He had a beautiful tenor voice and contributed to high school choir, and church choirs in each of the congregations of which he was a member. For a period of time, he was in the Detroit Lutheran Singers, a select choral group of church musicians. A highlight of his time was when the group sang the chorale portion of Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
In 1955 he met the love of his life, a lovely German girl named Hanni Schultz. Most of their dates involved sitting at the Detroit Public Library while he worked on his college homework and she wrote letters to her family in Germany. After he graduated Wayne State University, bringing home the first college degree in the family, they were married in August 1961. In next few years the family was enhanced with the addition of daughter Ellen and son Richard.
Allan had a 39-year career as an English teacher in the Detroit Public School system, primarily at Mackenzie High School. He retired in January 2000 and settled in to enjoy reading some of the hundreds of books that he always wanted to read. He was able to take more fly-fishing trips with his brother or son, and to do some traveling with his wife.
He was glad to be able to dedicate some of his available time to help his church family. He was a member of the school's Board of Education for a short while. He was especially honored to be asked to serve as an Elder as this was directly related to his passion for learning more about theology and its application to current church life.
He was known for his quick wit and the warm welcome he provided to anyone who visited his home. And he never met a spaniel that he didn't like.
He was called to God's loving arms on February 18, 2020 after fighting an infection made more complicated by a form of leukemia. He will be missed by his children, two surviving brothers (Raymond and Robert), and many nieces, nephews and friends, and he will be warmly remembered by all.

Allan A. Heise passed away February 18, 2020 at the age of 86. Beloved husband of the late Hanni for 52 years. Loving father of Ellen Heise and Richarld Heise. Dear brother of Raymond and Robert. Preceeded in death by siblings Frederick, Lawrence, Lois, Dolores and Lola Mae.

Donations in Allan's name can be made to

Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit

Angela Hospice

Emmanuel Lutheran Church