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A Memorial Day Tribute
The Heislers Celebrate Holidays &
Community with Wooden Yard Displays
Photos and story By Nichole Richardson
For Michael and Kathy Heisler, 35-year residents of Florissant, the old adage “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” was quite literally the inspiration behind the couple’s amazing seasonal yard displays. What innocently started as a friend giving away some free firewood spurred Michael Heisler’s now-lifelong hobby of woodcarving and holiday lawn arrangement.
Heisler retired from Boeing in 2007 but his experience as a tree trimmer until 1972 may have served him very well. “A friend was giving away some old Cedar wood to burn and I thought it was just too pretty to burn it, so instead I decided to carve it and I made a bench, a chair, and then Nathan,” explained Heisler.
“Nathan” is the Heislers’ little wooden boy, carved by Michael 21 years ago. He’s also now the star of the show in the Heislers’ patriotic Memorial Day tribute, wearing a dapper Marine’s uniform, waving to the passer-by from the front lawn. “Nathan has more clothes than I do,” Michael joked, “We get on Ebay and my wife picks out his outfits.”
More impressive than the small-scale clothing is the craftsmanship involved in the wooden boy’s making. The measurements were taken from Kathy’s sister’s child, a son named Nathan. Once the original sizes were cut and trimmed by chainsaw, Michael then began the arduous task of carving all the delicate features that made the boy come alive. Roughly three months later, Nathan was “born.”
“He and the bench are from the same tree. And I think Nathan’s been more places than me! I took him to the ‘real’ Nathan’s graduation party! The real Nathan’s now six foot three,” laughed Heisler. The wooden statue has also made his way onto social media and even has his own Facebook page. And once when he was stolen, he was spotted in photos on a diving board at a Florissant swimming pool and at a BBQ in Lake St. Louis.
“Nathan was taken and a teenaged girl showed up at my door a few days later and told me her boyfriend took Nathan and he was sitting in the back seat of his car! The kid’s parent’s found out and made him cut my grass for a year,” Michael remembered.
Besides the boy, Heisler carved an ornate wishing well and a “Don’t tread on me” snake, both occupying his front yard as well.
“I think I have the urge to express myself,” he laughed. The Heisler’s welcome anyone to come by (corner of Paddlewheel and St. Catherine) and check out their displays year round. Michael is looking for a donation of an army jeep and cannon to use as display 4-5 days.
