Dr. 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.  

Son of George and Henrietta Hein, Rolland was born September 12, 1932, and  grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa outside of Cedar Rapids. He spoke fondly throughout his life of the simple but physically demanding farm life that shaped his character and inspired his lifelong love of gardening. He remembered that even though friends and neighbors had few physical comforts and certainly no luxuries, “people were happier then.”

He was raised a member of the Brethren Church and throughout his life maintained a strong desire to follow Jesus. After graduating high school he attended Bob Jones University for two years, but he became disheartened by the Christianity practiced there and transferred to Wheaton College where he graduated in 1954 with a B.A. in English Literature. 

He often said that it was his time in Clyde S. Kilby's classroom that brought him to a deeper understanding of faith. It was Dr. Kilby who introduced Rolland to the writings of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald. Rolland came to believe that “great literature penetrates below the surface of things and reveals something of reality, and reality is Christian.”

In the summer following his graduation from Wheaton College he married his childhood sweetheart Dorothy Netolicky. 

The couple moved to Indiana so Rolland could pursue a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Grace Theological Seminary. During this time their son Steven was born. Upon finishing the program in 1957 Rolland accepted an invitation to teach English at the Seminary’s sister institution, Grace College.

After two years of teaching they left Grace College to accept a call to pastor Grace Brethren Church in Flora, Indiana, and daughter Christine was born. 

During this time Rolland continued to study the writings of George MacDonald, earning a Masters Degree in English Literature in 1962 at nearby Purdue University. As it became increasingly clear to him that he wanted to teach English Literature at the college level, he resigned his position at Grace Church to begin studies toward a doctorate. He pursued coursework at the University of Minnesota and taught English Literature at Bethel College In St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 1970 Rolland received an invitation to teach at Wheaton College. The family relocated to Wheaton, Illinois, where Rolland developed courses in Modern British Literature and Contemporary American Literature. He worked alongside his former mentor Clyde Kilby and was active in the Marion E. Wade Center, a research collection of the work of seven British authors including C. S. Lewis and George MacDonald. He earned a Ph.D. in 1971 from Purdue University with a dissertation on MacDonald’s novels.

In 1994 Wheaton College honored him with the Clyde S. Kilby Chair of English Literature. He led the Wheaton in England Summer Program multiple times. 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 The Heart of George MacDonald, Christian Mythmakers, The Harmony Within, and Growing with my Garden. He wrote a comprehensive biography entitled George MacDonald Victorian Mythmaker. His final book, Doors In: The Fairytale World of George MacDonald was published in 2018.

Rolland retired from Wheaton College in 1997. After retirement 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. At Windsor he became active in the Windsor Radio Players group, and developed a love for pickleball.

A lifelong gardener, Rolland was known for his beautiful and elaborate gardens that included waterfalls, grape arbors, fruit trees and koi ponds. His St. Charles garden was featured in the 2008 summer edition of Country Gardens magazine. 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 67 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.