Eugene Edward Heinz

Eugene "Gene" Edward Heinz was born May 24, 1932, to Fred and Margaret (Schmidt) Heinz in Hazen, ND. Gene passed away on Aug. 22, 2020, after a long battle with heart disease.

Gene was the third of eight children and raised in Center, ND. After graduation, he enlisted in the army and served in the Korean Conflict; after serving, he was honorably discharged. Fifty years later, he received many military honors, including three Purple Hearts. Gene attended college after his discharge getting a degree in business.

Before enlisting in the army, he worked as a meat cutter in Center, ND. After being discharged, he moved to Carson, ND, and ran the meat locker there.

While in Carson, Gene met and married Ann Kuntz on October 13, 1959. During their almost 61 years of marriage, they had five children, Randy of Billings, Robyn (David) Dalke of Shepherd, Renee (Brian) Brady of Bismarck, ND, and identical twins Rhonda (Tom) Meyer and Roxann Heinz of Billings. They also have five grandchildren, Caitlyn Dalke, Caleb Dalke, Nathan Brady, Stefan Meyer and Sydney Meyer.

Gene continued his meat cutting career in Wyoming and Montana for about 25 years before joining the Postal Service.

Upon retirement from the Postal Service, Gene enjoyed coffee with his work buddies every Tuesday, as well as sports, playing cards, and joking and visiting with everyone he met. The best description of Gene is that he could sit on a park bench by himself and start a conversation, and the park bench would answer back. Gene and Ann went on cruises and guided tours in many other countries, enjoying them all, but especially their trip to the Holy Land. He also made an Honor Flight with his son in 2018.

He was a life member of the VFW-Post 2281, Thermopolis, WY, 3rd & 4th Degree Knight of Columbus-Council 9976, American Legion-Post 3, Disabled American Veteran-Post 10, and the Moose Lodge 558 all out of Billings.

Gene was preceded in death by both his parents; siblings Dorothy, Frank, Ronald, Wayne; and brother-in-law, Bruce Jackman.

He is survived by his wife; children; grandchildren; sisters Beverly Jackman and Cynthia (Cliff) Leinius of Bismarck; brother Jerome (LaVerne) Heinz of El Paso, TX; sister-in-law Margaret Heinz; as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Shriner's Children's Hospitals, St. Vincent DePaul, or a charity of your choice.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, August 28, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 717 18th St. West. Due to Covid restrictions, the funeral Mass will be live streamed at www.stpiusxblgs.org.

Following the service, interment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens.