Russell Heins

Russell Heins

YORK - Russell Dean Heins, 85, of York, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at First United Methodist Church in York with the Rev. Art Phillips officiating. Burial will follow in York's Greenwood Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday with his family greeting friends later that evening from 6:30-8 p.m. at the mortuary.

Russ grew up on a farm near Garrison and graduated from David City High School in 1941. He farmed and fed cattle in Surprise and Benedict. He served on the Benedict Coop Board, and sold seed corn for Funks G Golden Harvest. In 1972, Russ moved to York where he sold Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance (later CUNA Mutual) until retirement in 1990.

A life long pilot and sportsman, Russ soloed after only five hours of dual flight instruction. Soon he was buzzing farmyards, landing in fields, and perfecting acrobatics and stalls in his shiny Luscombe. Russ flew airplanes until the spring of 2007, flying in 20+ types of planes over his lifetime.

Throughout his life, Russ enjoyed hunting & shooting. He hunted deer, antelope, geese, pheasants, ducks and prairie dogs. Russ shot trap & skeet, winning the Class C State Trap Shoot in '92 and '94.

Russ's lesser known hobbies & skills included roller skating (even backwards!), English Springer Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, stock car racing in his 1935 Plymouth "58X," gardening, turning cartwheels and stained glasswork.

Russ was a loving husband and father. He held offices and participated in Church activities. He was honest and sincere, gentlemanly and kind; and he delighted in his many friendships. Russ modeled a life well lived; working hard and playing just as hard.

Russ is survived by his wife of 55 years, Donna Rudisil Heins; daughter, Margo and her husband, Gary Biba of Austin, Texas; daughter, Joan Lush & granddaughter, Rachel Lush of Flower Mound, Texas; brother, Laverne and his wife, Orva of Surprise; brother, Loran and his wife, Wilma of Rising City; sister, Betty and her husband, Leslie Strickler of Kenai, Ak.; sister, Avis and her husband, John Kroft of Glade Park, Colo.; sister-in-law, Lorene Heins of Rising City; and brother-in-law, Kent Rudisil and his wife, Judith of Mountain Home, Ark.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Herman and Edna Egly Heins; his grandson, Connor Lush; and his brother, Don Heins.

Memorials may be directed to York Adopt-A-Pet or to First United Methodist Church in York.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.metzmortuary.com">www.metzmortuary.com

Metz Mortuary in York is in charge of arrangements.