Rev. Charles L. Heuser

The Rev. Charles L. Heuser, D.D., 89, of Gold Beach, died Feb. 20, 2010, in Gold Beach.

He was born  Dec. 21, 1920, in Dedham, Mass., to William F. and Hannah J. Heuser.

He attended public grade school in Dedham. He graduated from the plumbing department of Boston Trade School and spent that summer working as a plumber’s helper.

In the fall, he entered Gordon College of Theology and Missions in Boston and graduated in 1943. Charles attended Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Conn., and graduated in 1945 having completed a three-year course in two years, working nights as a juvenile court officer, and at a funeral home.

When he tried to enlist for military duty at the end of World War II, he was told his service was not required.  Charles married Gertrude  in 1946.

After graduation, he took his first ministry job in Fryeburg, Maine. He was pastor there for three years. Rev. Charles Heuser served on the board of directors for the Congregational Conference of Maine and was the director of their youth camp for a week each summer.

From Maine, Charles became a missionary/educator on the Atoll of Truk in the South Pacific. He was a teaching principal of the high school and superintendent of 52 churches. The four-year term stretched into five years in order to graduate the first class from the high school.

He returned to the states and accepted a call to a small church of 246 members in Hopkins, Minn. Charles served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Conference, and directed a youth camp each summer.  After 13 years as pastor, two building programs, moving the church to a new location, the membership grew to 1,300.  Charles ran for and was elected to the Hopkins City Council for a four-year term.

He then accepted a call to the Country Club Congregational Church in Kansas City, Mo. The church grew, the building was renovated and a new addition built. He was elected to serve on the Missouri Conference Board of Directors. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and earned a degree in counseling.  He was honored with a Doctorate of Divinity degree by Drury College.

After 10 years as senior pastor he accepted a call to the Neighborhood Church in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.  There he founded the Sea Cliff Memorial. He served as  chaplain for the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department. Charles was elected to the California Board of Directors and the Board of Governors for the Board of World Ministries.  A history book of the neighborhood church was published in 2003 and listed the interesting and creative ways he led this split church with a poor-giving record to a united growing congregation with the highest giving record of all the Congregational Churches in Southern California.  After 12 years as senior pastor he retired. 

Two years after retirement Charles married Janis and they moved to Gold Beach,  where they have resided since 1988. Charles remained active in the ministry through preaching and conducting funerals and weddings. He began and brought the Port of Gold Beach Memorial to reality. He was a 32nd degree Mason and served as worshipful master for three consecutive years plus two additional years. He received his 50-year pin in 1997.  He served as president of the Humbug Mountain Shrine Club for three years. He began the appreciation luncheon for the school teachers at the year’s end and “Soles for Little Souls” program. He served as a member of the Curry Health District Health Board and the Budget Committee for Curry General Hospital.  He was a member of the Master Food Preservers and the Master Gardeners.

Charles is survived by his wife Dr. Janis; son Charles (Liz), granddaughters Lara (Peter) Kimball, great-grand daughters Sophia and Ariana, and great-grandson Alex, granddaughter Sarah and granddaughter Samantha of Minnesota; son Douglas (Martha), granddaughters Lindsay and Heather of New Hampshire, son Stephen (Melissa) and granddaughters Christine and Stephanie, and daughter Patt Heuser of Portland.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Bill and Al; sister Mary.

A celebration of Charles’ life will be at 3 p.m Sunday, March 14, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Gold Beach. 

Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.

Submitted by Redwood Memorial Chapel.