Celestine "Les" Heying, age 78, of Buffalo, formerly of Minnetonka, died Saturday, November 23, 2013 at J.A. Wedum Residential Hospice in Brooklyn Park after a brief battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Maple Lake with Fr. John Meyer as the Celebrant.  Burial will follow at St. Timothy Catholic Cemetery in Maple Lake.  Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, both at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake.  Parish Prayers will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday.  Memorials are preferred to St. Timothy Catholic Church, St. Timothy Catholic School or Allina Hospice.

Celestine Herman Heying was born March 15, 1935 in Richmond to Bernard and Catherine (Kohorst) Heying.  He graduated from St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring with the Class of 1954.  Les served his country in the U.S. Army.  On July 16, 1960, he was united in marriage to Jean Chirhart at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring.  Les worked as a truck driver for John Sexton & Company for 32 years; in his retirement he drove for NAPA Auto Parts.  He was a member of the Maple Lake American Legion Post 131, Teamsters Local 544, Maple Lake Fr. O'Brien's Council Knights of Columbus, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Maple Lake and a former member of St. Mary of the Lake, Plymouth.  Les was mechanically inclined and very handy; from fixing the house and car to making toys, he could do it all.

He is survived by his wife Jean of Buffalo; children Margaret of Plymouth, Steve (Julie) of Rockville, Lynn of Minneapolis, Charles of Hanover, Tony (Jamie) of Maple Lake, Kathryn of Mountain View, CA and Gretchen (Joshua Chambers) of Seattle, WA; brothers Linus (Theresa) of Waite Park, Henry (Kathleen) of St. Cloud and Vern (Carol) of Anacortes, WA; and five grandchildren Zach, Aaron, Melynda, Abygayl and Grace.  He is preceded in death by his parents Bernard & Catherine; sister Ginny Butala; brother Barney; and 9 half brothers and sisters.

Pallbearers for the service will be Margaret, Steve, Lynn, Charles, Tony, Kathryn and Gretchen Heying, Zach and Aaron Freeman and Joshua Chambers.  _Military honors will be provided by the Maple Lake American Legion Post 131, Maple Lake VFW Post 7664 and the Minnesota National Guard Honor Guard.  Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.

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