Elza P. Hisel

Major Elza P. Hisel (age 80) (United States Air Force, retired) passed away on September 26 after a long and brave battle with dementia. Elza was born in 1938 in Lexington, Kentucky. The youngest of five, in his youth he plowed fields, milked cows, and picked tobacco. After high school he joined the Air Force and served in Germany, where he met a lovely young woman named Johanna, with whom he fell in love, married, and set about building a life. During their almost 50 years together, they traveled the world from Air Base to Air Base with their growing family, including tours in, among other places, Thailand, with young daughters Leslie and Lisa, and Italy, Hawaii, and a return to Germany with son Elza Jr. After thirty years of decorated service, Elza and Johanna retired from the Air Force and focused on travel, their garden, and time with their grandchildren Jason, Heidi, Spencer, and Parker. After Johanna’s passing, Elza continued to enjoy these passions, and even found time for some golf. He was a committed and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and is remembered by Leslie, her husband Oscar, grandson Jason, his wife Brooks, and great-grandchildren Addison, Jack, and Finley, and granddaughter Heidi; daughter Lisa; son Elza, his wife Sara, and grandsons Spencer and Parker; as well as his extended family across the country. A visitation will be held at the Demaine Funeral Home at 520 S. Washington Street in Alexandria, Virginia, from 2-4 pm, on Tuesday, October 2. A funeral with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. www.demainefuneralhomes.com