Ronald Allen Heisey

Ronald Allen Heisey, 60, of Harrisburg, passed away on Friday, May 5, 2023 at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center after fighting a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma. He was the son of Ronald E. and Darla (Weiser) Heisey. Ron was born in Harrisburg on December 29, 1962.

Ron attended Cedar Cliff High School and Cumberland Perry Vo-Tech School for welding, graduating in 1980. He used this trade when entering the workforce, but would transition to employment with the Federal Government. Ron was a Property Disposal Specialist for Defense Logistics Agency - Disposition Services, working at the Mechanicsburg Depot and retiring December 31, 2022 after a 37-year career.

In his younger years, Ron was active in football, baseball, and wrestling. He still has a special bond with his childhood friends, sharing laughs and stories about the good old days whenever they’d get together. Ron grew up at Silver Spring Speedway, watching his dad race the gold #56 sportsman. Working on his dad’s race car at an early age gave Ron the “need for speed.” He began racing go-karts at dirt tracks like Sunbury and Hunterstown Speedway and kept the #56 to honor his father. He decided to get into asphalt racing and raced with the Woodbridge Kart Club at Summit Point Speedway in West Virginia where he made so many wonderful friends in the karting community. Continuing to use his skills as a welder, he built his own go-karts and raced with the World Karting Association, racing at the big tracks like Daytona, Charlotte, and Loudon, to name a few. Winning a Grand National Championship was one of his racing highlights. He enjoyed watching local dirt track racing and NASCAR.

Ron also enjoyed fishing and was an avid hunter; he couldn’t wait for deer season to roll around. He also had the opportunity to take fishing trips to Canada and a moose hunting trek to Newfoundland. It was his love for the outdoors that encouraged him and his wife to purchase a cabin in Juniata County. With his skills, craftsmanship, attention to detail, and being a perfectionist, Ron would transform their cabin into a beautiful second home where they spent a lot of their free time.

Ron was also passionate about Boy Scouts and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1979 with Troop 269 in New Cumberland, PA. When his son, Jarrett, was old enough to join Cub Scouts, he once again became very active, helping to lead their den and then becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 256 (where he continued to serve). Ron was so proud of Jarrett when he also earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Both he and Jarrett belonged to the Order of the Arrow and obtained the highest rank of Vigil Honor. His Vigil name given to him translated to “Talkative Worker,” which captured his outgoing personality and his talent for his handiwork. Ron loved mentoring the Scouts, spending time at meetings, helping with fundraisers, and attending hikes, camp outs, and summer camps. 

Ron could strike up a conversation with anybody and made friends wherever he went. His smiling face and positive attitude will be missed, but never forgotten.

Ron was a 25-year member of Christian Life Assembly, Camp Hill, and was also a member of Boys Scouts of America and the NRA, to name a few. 

Above all, Ron was a devoted husband to his wife and best friend, Tricia, of 33 years, meeting her at Silver Spring Speedway when they were teenagers, and spending the next 41 years together. He was a dedicated father to Jarrett Heisey, who currently lives in Hershey, and was so proud of everything he accomplished as a Boy Scout, firefighter, and a faithful and loving Christian.   

Ron is also survived by his parents, Darla (Weiser) Heisey of Mechanicsburg, and Ronald E. Heisey of Harrisburg; siblings; Cynthia Berkoski (Sam) of Marysville, Brenda Wasielewski (Tim) of Hershey, and Scott Heisey (Karen) of Camp Hill; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Michael Berkoski; maternal grandparents, Evelyn Kellogg and Kenneth Weiser; and paternal grandparents, Anna and Jacob Heisey.

Services will be held on Friday, May 12^th and Saturday, May 13^th at Christian Life Assembly, 2645 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Viewings will take place on Friday from 6-8pm and again on Saturday morning from 10-11am. The funeral service will begin at 11am in the sanctuary. Click here to watch Ron's service via live-stream. A private burial will take place in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Harrisburg.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ron’s memory to Friends of Hidden Valley or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS):

Friends of Hidden Valley
c/o New Birth of Freedom Council
1 Baden Powell Lane
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
-or-
click here to donate online *in memory of Ron Heisey

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
PO Box 22324
New York, NY 10087
-or-
click here to donate online *in memory of Ron Heisey