Al Heinz

Albin (Al) Matthias Heinz, 87, of Mason City, died Sunday, January 24, 2010, at his winter home in Weslaco, Texas, where he had spent parts of the last 23 winters. Memorial services will be held 2:30 PM Sunday, February 7, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Lime Creek Nature Center, Trinity Lutheran Church, or Hospice of North Iowa.

Al was born on October 8, 1922, in Lancaster, Kansas, the oldest child of the Rev. F. Albin and Adeline (Matthias) Heinz. He grew up in many small communities in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, where his father served Lutheran Church parishes. Al graduated from high school in Wellsburg, Iowa, and later followed his parents to Mason City where he spent his adult life.

Al spoke fondly and often of friends, neighbors, congregation members and life events of each location where he lived, carefully and accurately reciting names, special anecdotes and experiences. He was very proud of his Kansas roots, and shared many fond memories of his Matthias relatives and the time he spent on their family farms. Al looked forward to the annual Matthias family reunion held each September in northeast Kansas. The son of a German immigrant, his life was a legacy of the pioneer spirit! He often spoke of his fathers family that remained in Germany and marveled at his dads decision as a young man to leave his family in 1912 for life in America.

Al began work in the 1940s with KGLO radio as an announcer and later worked on both radio and TV, accumulating over 50 years of media work primarily as the Farm Director. He took a brief hiatus from that work to sell agricultural fertilizer with a local company, but returned to radio and TV in the late 1960s. He officially retired from KGLO radio as Farm Director in 1998. He enjoyed the combination of meeting interesting people and his love of the land, livestock and equipment. He truly loved broadcasting work, especially radio - it was his calling.

Al was actively involved in community, professional and service organizations. He served as President of the Jefferson Elementary School P.T.A. in Mason City, represented Mason Citys Third Ward as a city council member, was President of the North Iowa Fair Board, served on the executive committee of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB), was a past president of the Mason City Evening Lions Club, served on the Mason City Planning & Zoning Commission, and was active in church, serving St. Paul Lutheran Church with their education building project in the 1960s and later as an usher at Trinity Lutheran Church. His interests included reading, nature/wildlife, socializing with people, companion dogs, good food, walking and being outdoors, camping, horses, motorcycles, fixing things, helping others, hunting pheasants and ducks, and fishing. Being with his family was his greatest joy.

Al was married to Janet Rowe on April 27, 1952, and they celebrated 55 years of marriage prior to her death in August, 2007. He is survived by his son Fred (Cheri Ross) Heinz, grandson Eric Peterson and great-grandson Tyler Peterson, grandson Kyle (Sara) Peterson and great-granddaughter Brynn Peterson, son-in-law Ken Peterson, sisters-in-law Jean Heinz and Shirley Ausenhus, and Mason City area nieces and nephews Brice (Dawn) Ausenhus, Melissa (Bob) Thoms, Jeff (Brenda) Heinz, Brian Heinz, Howard (Janel) Heinz, and Nancy (Glen) VanderPlas. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Janet, daughter Janelle Peterson, brothers Paul and S.H. Heinz, sister Norma Kliven, brothers-in-law Dean Ausenhus and Lyle Kliven, and sister-in-law Maxine Heinz. Memorials may be directed to Lime Creek Nature Center, Trinity Lutheran Church of Mason City, or Hospice of North Iowa.