Herman Allan Heuss

Herman Allan Heuss, 93, of Indianapolis, died on September 3, 2024 from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Allan was born January 4, 1931, to Herman and Lucille (Jenkins) Heuss in Darke County, Ohio, the second of four children. He graduated from Jackson Township High School in Randolph County, Indiana in 1948. He went on to study physical education and history at Ball State Teachers College and worked several jobs to earn his tuition and living expenses. He was a pitcher for the Ball State and industrial sponsored baseball teams. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1952. 

He earned his Air Force commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. On the suggestion of a professor there, he applied for flight training even though he had never flown before as a passenger or otherwise.

Allan proposed to Helen Montano, a fellow student from Union City, Indiana in their senior year at Ball State. They were married in August of 1952, shortly before he was to report for pilot training in Texas where he discovered a lifelong love of flying. During their first four years of marriage, they were stationed on air bases in Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. They began their family during that time, eventually adding two daughters and two sons to their home.

After leaving active duty, Allan worked as a curricular advisor at Ball State and earned a master’s degree in counseling there in 1965. He worked as a counselor and an area supervisor for the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the Indiana Rehabilitation Services from 1960 to 1977. He went on to own and operate the John Montano Lumber Company with his wife Helen and son Tim in Union City.

From 1958 until 1982 Allan served in the Air Force Reserve. In that time, he was called to active duty for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the Vietnam Conflict in 1968-69. Allan retired as Vice Wing Commander of the 434th Tactical Fighter Wing with the rank of Colonel in 1982.

Born to tenant farmers, Allan grew up with plenty of manual labor to be done, problems to be solved, and decisions to be made. Throughout his life he built on this experience, enjoying physical activity in both work and leisure (particularly baseball as a young man), problem solving, and finding joy in flying and learning other new skills. He enjoyed the variety in his pursuits: one day working his regular job with clients in vocational rehabilitation or selling lumber, and the next day flying an Air Force fighter aircraft. He also put energy into serving in community groups and at his church with leadership and faithfulness.

Allan and Helen enjoyed traveling to Germany and France to visit distant but cherished relatives and friends. They also enjoyed travel adventures attending reunions of Allan’s pilot training and Viet Nam squadrons.

Allan’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease and its increasing affect on his physical abilities was another challenge for his physical stamina and problem-solving skills. He enjoyed Rock Steady Boxing and, when he and Helen moved to an assisted living facility, he encouraged the establishment of a boxing class there. Allan impressed his children and health care workers alike with his inventive workarounds and determination. 

Allan was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Malcolm Heuss, Judith (Heuss) Harper, and Merrill Heuss, and by a great-grandson, Josiah Gray. 

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Helen; daughters Kathleen Heuss of Lincoln, Nebraska and Cynthia Strietelmeier (Mark) of Indianapolis, and sons Matthew Heuss (Judy) of Indianapolis and Timothy Heuss (Jill) of Union City, Indiana; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. 

Services will be held at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, 5233 E 79th St, Indianapolis, Indiana on September 13th at 11:00 am with calling one hour before. 

A family service will be held later at Union City Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the Parkinson Research Foundation or the Air Force Museum Foundation.