Rolland N. Hein

Dr. Rolland N. Hein, age 90, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Rolland was born September 12, 1932, and grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa outside of Cedar Rapids. He was raised a member of the Brethren Church and throughout his life maintained a strong desire to follow Jesus. He graduated from Wheaton College in 1954 with a B.A. in English Literature. It was his time in Clyde S. Kilby's classroom that brought him to a deeper understanding of faith and introduced Rolland to the writings of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald, that would eventually influence his own writings and career.

Following his graduation from Wheaton College he married his childhood sweetheart Dorothy Netolicky and pursued a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Grace Theological Seminary. During this time their son Steven was born. Upon finishing the program in 1957 he accepted a call to pastor Grace Brethren Church in Flora, Indiana, and daughter Christine was born.

In 1962 Rolland earned a Masters Degree in English Literature at nearby Purdue University. He pursued coursework at the University of Minnesota and left the pastorate to teach English Literature at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 1970 Rolland received an invitation to teach at Wheaton College. He worked alongside his former mentor Clyde Kilby and was active in the Marion E. Wade Center. He earned a Ph.D. in 1971 from Purdue University.

In 1994 Wheaton College honored him with the Clyde S. Kilby Chair of English Literature. Dr. Hein is remembered with gratitude by his students for teaching them to read with both head and heart. Through his words and example he taught that "life without true religion is no real life at all, and growth in virtue is growth into life itself."

Dr. Hein edited and published four volumes of George MacDonald's writings and wrote and published multiple books, including a comprehensive biography entitled George MacDonald Victorian Mythmaker. After retirement from Wheaton College in 1997, Rolland taught adult literature courses at Christ Church in Oak Brook, at the Wade Center at Wheaton College, and at Windsor Park. He cherished the friendships that were formed in those classes.

A lifelong gardener, Rolland was known for his beautiful gardens that included waterfalls, grape arbors, fruit trees and koi ponds. Over the years he was a member of multiple gardening groups including the Men's Garden Club of Villa Park and the Central States Dahlia society, showing and winning many awards for his prized dahlia blooms.

He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 69 years, son Steven (Heather), daughter Christine (William) Mackey, and granddaughters Erin (Ryan Parker) Hein, Sarah Hein, and Lucy Mackey. He was preceded in death by his brother Edward (Cathy) of Cedar Rapids. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, Wheaton.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church of Oak Brook on Saturday, March 18 at 10:00 a.m.

Interment will be held privately at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, Illinois.

Memorials may be directed to Wheaton College.

Complete obituary can be viewed on Legacy.com.