Preston Loring Hayse was born February 7, 1942, to John Robert Hayse and Virginia Estella LaShier Hayse in Mitchell, South Dakota. He was named after his two uncles on either side. The family moved back to Sioux City, Iowa to be closer to other family before Preston started kindergarten. He grew up hunting with his dad and Uncle Loring, playing basketball, football, and running track. He worked in high school at Armor Meat Packing plant. He often told us that his supervisor would fire him about once a week, but by the end of the day he was always told to come back the next day.
He graduated from Sioux City East High School in January of 1960 and started college at Iowa State University that fall. He pledged the Delta Upsilon fraternity where he made many life-long friends. He met a certain young lady in one of his classes, who wrote home to her own mother that “she had met a very cute boy in class named Preston Hayse.” Her mother could see her daughter reeling him in. And she did, they began to date the next year, even though he missed their first day due to being hungover from the night before. He taught her how to drive a stick shift car, and she taught him how to do his own laundry.
Preston married Kathleen Louise Eisele on November 25, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois. They were on fall trimester break from Iowa State University. Their wedding photographer did not show up because it was the same day that President John F. Kennedy was being buried, and he didn’t think they would go through with the wedding. Katie’s mother assured him that the president would have wanted them to. The only photographs they had were from Preston’s father’s camera.
They continued their educations at Iowa State before Preston joined the Army. Son Peter John was born in Northfield, Minnesota during this time. Preston was a captain in the Army and during his time served as a nuclear specialist. He was the man with the key around his neck to set off the bombs if needed. He was called to Vietnam and on the plane twice but was never sent overseas. Later in his service he, along with two other service men, oversaw finding and bring ing back soldiers who had gone AWOL.
After the service the family moved to Loveland, Colorado where Preston worked on his master’s degree at Colorado State University. During this time while Katie taught elementary school, Preston worked for an antique car dealer. Later in life he could tell anyone who asked what make, model, year, original colors, and how many were produced of nearly any car he saw. His love for antiques and antique cars stayed with him the rest of his life.
After his master’s degree was obtained, Preston and Katie took Peter back to Iowa and lived in Zearing. Katie taught at Colo-NESCO schools where Peter went, and Preston went back to Iowa State University to get his PhD. Shaun Margaret joined the family in January of 1973, and Preston graduated that spring with a doctorate degree in Poultry Science and Nutrition. The family moved to Illinois for a couple of years before landing in Ringgold County in 1975.
Preston was the Ringgold County Extension Director and later the Decatur and Ringgold County Extension director for nearly 20 years before taking a job with Campbell’s Soup Company as the field service manager of the many chicken houses across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. He retired in 1997 and went to work ranching with son Peter and hauling hogs for Swine Graphics.
Katie and Preston enjoyed traveling and saw all 50 states before her death in 2018. Preston rarely missed one of his grandkids activities and took great pride in their achievements. He spent a lot of time spending time in bleachers supporting whatever they did from wrestling, basketball, cattle shows and 4-H. In recent years he enjoyed going out to eat and spending time with Bobbi Bainum.
Preston was preceded in death by his parents, loving wife Katie of 55 years, and son-in-law Clint Kniep. He is survived by his son Peter and wife Sally of Maryville, Mo, daughter Shaun of Mount Ayr, grandchildren Kyle of Cainsville, MO, Tyler (Sharon) of Redding, Jillian of Iowa City, and Tessa of Mount Ayr, great-grandson Asher of Redding, special friend Bobbi Bainum, and many extended family and friends.
Memorials are to the Ringgold County 4H.
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