Kevin Heinle

Kevin Heinle, 38, Lincoln, formerly of McClusky, was called home to be with the Lord on Sept. 19, 2012, at his home in Lincoln. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at St. John's Lutheran Church, McClusky. Burial will be in McClusky City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Hertz Funeral Home, McClusky.

Kevin was born April 28, 1974, in Bismarck, to Armin and Jan (Franke) Heinle. He grew up on the family farm south of McClusky and graduated from McClusky High School in 1992. After graduating, he continued to raise his beloved horses and Longhorn cattle on his dad's farm. He started attending horse training clinics, which led him to training horses with natural horsemanship. He trained with the well known Ray Hunt. He excelled and was recognized for his natural horse training talents and expertise. He denied his comparison to being a "Horse Whisperer," but credited it to his great love and respect that he shared with his horses.

Kevin struck out on another venture, that of being a farrier and learned from his good friend, Andrew Boehm, of Mandan. Again, Kevin used the natural way in providing farrier care. He had a great love and compassion for all aspects of treating horses and took great pride in what he did for them. He also found great comfort and solace with his horses during troubled times.

It was through the mutual love of horses that brought Kevin and his future wife, Shannon Marker, together. They were married on Feb. 23, 2002, in McClusky. They lived in McClusky and Kevin continued to ranch there. They moved to Bismarck in 2004 and he began working as a welder at Melroe. In 2006, they bought a piece of land north of Bismarck. In September 2009, he began working as a welder for ESCO Corporation in Bismarck.

Kevin was a true cowboy, heart and soul. He loved to team rope whenever he could. He loved baby animals and their three "four legged kids" blue heelers. They raised over 150 Blue Heeler pups.

Kevin was a kind and loving man with a big sensitive heart. He loved children, to visit, laugh and tell stories. He will be missed by family and friends whose lives he touched.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Shannon; his father, Armin, McClusky; his mother, Jan Heinle, Saratoga, Wyo.; two half-brothers and two half-sisters, Jim (Nancy) Crimmins, McClusky, Linda Crimmins, St. Paul, Minn., Kelly Bren, Colorado, and Mike (Stacy) Crimmins, Saratoga, Wyo.; two sisters-in-law, Dana (Jeff) Schrenk, Jamestown, and Dawn Marker, Fargo; and numerous nieces and nephews.