Clarence Cletis "Toad" Heimgartner passed away Monday, Sept. 5, 2016, at Royal Plaza in Lewiston. He was born Aug. 2, 1915, to Albert and Mystie (Hoisington) Heimgartner at the family home on Fix Ridge, near Juliaetta. When he was about 3 years old, the family moved to Potlatch Ridge, where they farmed for many years.
It was when his dad saw him running through the field toward him and commented that all he could see was that towhead coming through the grain that Clarence became "Toad." The nickname stuck for a lifetime.
Toad married Erma Sampson on Jan. 1, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lewiston. He noted in his diary on that day that his wedding day was "the happiest day of my life." They lived in California until he entered the U.S. Army Air Forces, eventually being stationed in Italy. It was there he completed 65 missions as an aerial gunner in a Douglas A-20 Havoc. He survived those missions without a scratch, including the one when the bomb didn't fall from the plane and they returned to the base with a live bomb on board. The powers that be were not amused.
He would tell anyone who would listen that it was while he was getting shot at over Italy that he made a deal with God that even though he hadn't thought he wanted to farm, if God would get him back to that farm, he'd never leave.
Toad returned to farm the Wasem Ranch near Gifford and didn't leave until he was 90 years old. He may have left farming, but for the next nine years he returned almost daily to make sure the neighbors were doing the farming right. He also routinely took a spin around Potlatch Ridge, keeping an eye on "the home place" where he grew up. He was thrilled to go for a ride on his 101st birthday to check the harvest progress.
Toad is survived by his children, Nadine (Robert) Whitney of Winston, Ore., Dan (fiancee Molly Martinez) of Lewiston, and Tammy of Mountain Home, Idaho; grandson Marvin (Candi) Heimgartner of Spalding; brother Floyd (Betty) of Lewiston; and sister Bernice Foss of Lewiston.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Erma; grandson Jeff Heimgartner; brothers Earl, Eldon and Wilbur; and sisters Mabel Steigers and Erma Stevens.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home in Lewiston, with the Rev. Val Beesley, the Rev. Craig Groseclose and the Rev. Tammy Heimgartner presiding. Burial will follow at Good Hope Lutheran Cemetery near Gifford. This will be followed by a covered-dish dinner at the Good Hope Fellowship Hall.
Memorials may be made to Good Hope Lutheran Church, 28157 Settlement Road, Lenore, ID 83541.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Friday, September 9, 3:00 PM
- Location
-
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home
920-21st Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Get Directions - Additional Details
- Burial will follow at Good Hope Lutheran Cemetery
Offer Condolences
Our Family, Serving Yours
✔ Family Owned since 1898
✔ Professional, Licensed Staff
✔ Burial or Cremation Services
✔ Pre-Arranged Funeral Plans
✔ Comfortable Facility
Serving the LC Valley Since 1898
920 21st Avenue