Edwin Hein

1925 - 2018

Edwin Hein
September 21, 1925 ~ February 17, 2018
Resident of Diablo Valley
Edwin Hein, age 92, long time resident of the Diablo Valley, passed away peacefully in his home at sunset on February 17, 2018 in the presence of his loving family. He was born on September 21, 1925 in Lone Tree Fort near Sidney, Montana. He enjoyed exploring (like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer) along the Yellowstone River with his friends. He was removed from school after the sixth grade to help on his parent's farm where he developed his core physical strength "shoveling ton after ton of sugar beets, and bucking hay." When he was sixteen he drove his parent's car on the family's move from eastern Montana all the way to Lodi, California. He laughingly described the trip as "like something out of the Beverly Hillbillies." Edwin was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan until the abrupt finish of WWII. He witnessed the aftermath of the atomic bomb blasts as a member of the occupation force. After discharge from the United States Army he married Rosemary Lazio on February 22, 1948 in Lodi. He earned his journeyman's electrician license, as well as his GED, in lieu of a high school diploma. He worked hard to keep his five children, age six months to eleven, together following Rosemary's tragic death in 1961. Edwin was not only a true American entrepreneur, but also an inventor who owned a patent on an electrical panel safety upgrade that was implemented at the Dupont plant in Antioch, California. He designed a pragmatic bomb shelter, in the mid 1960's, to protect his family in case the Diablo Valley suffered what he saw first hand in Hiroshima. He also designed a home solar system, that was far ahead of its time, in the early 1970's. He started several businesses over the years, including Hein Lighting & Electric which is still a highly respected contracting company in the Diablo Valley to this day, operated by his son, James Dean Hein. Edwin's secret to success was three fold. First and foremost, he out-worked/hustled the competition. Second, he was an excellent problem solver. Finally, he was a great salesperson who was fearless marketing his awning, carpet cleaning, and electrical contracting businesses door to door. He won numerous sales awards over a number of years in the insurance industry. He provided jobs for many people over the years, several of whom made careers, supporting families in the industries he gave them their starts in. He also had a knack for developing land, which he demonstrated in a number of locations around Northern California. In his 60's he decided to go back to his roots and build a farm that he coined "Lost Marbles Ranch," located north of Capay, California. An inventor/problem solver to the very end, he recently invented a simple contraption to make cleaning up yard waste far less difficult. Edwin Hein was a God fearing Lutheran who could not consciously tell a lie. Edwin loved his William Penn nickel cigars, fast cars, reading, body surfing, dancing with beautiful women, and (especially) he loved his family
Edwin is survived by five children (Judy, Steve, John, Jim, and Richard), four daughters in-law (Chris, Irina, Beth, and Lori), fourteen grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, two siblings (Lillian and Danny), two sisters in-law (Sis and Darlene), and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents (Ludwig and Christina Hein), two children (Kathleen and Joseph), three wives (Rosemary, Elaine, and Gwen), four sisters (Maggie, Regina, Bertha, and Alice), and two brothers (Richard and Oscar).
The family will be holding a private memorial celebration of Edwin's life on Saturday, March 3. Please contact Hein Electric at 925-939-1528 if you would like to attend. "We'll go dancing in the dark, walking through the park, and reminiscing."


View the online memorial for Edwin Hein