Timothy Heinlein

Timothy LeRoy Heinlein, 71, of Nixa, Missouri, passed away Saturday, January 18, 2025 with his wife by his side. He was born January 16, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri, the oldest son of Loy and Jeanne Heinlein of Ava, Missouri. In elementary school, they relocated to the family farm in Ava, where he cultivated his love of the outdoors including hunting, fishing, and trapping. After graduating from Ava High School in 1972, he became employed by the United States Postal Service in Springfield, Missouri where he met his wife and from which he retired in 2013 after 40 years. He spent his retirement heavily involved in his church, and he and his wife enjoyed traveling around the country, eventually visiting all 48 lower states.
Tim and Bunny (Morehouse) were united in marriage April 3, 1982 at Ozark First Church of the Nazarene. After joyfully gaining a young step-daughter, their family expanded with a second daughter and a son over the years, to whom he passed on his love of ice cream and cookies in milk.
Tim enjoyed golfing vacations with friends, church softball and bowling leagues, was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals as well as the Oklahoma Sooners, and, through his marriage to a native St. Louisan, was an honorary member of Cardinal Nation. He gained a love for estate sales and auctions and found excitement in recounting the treasures he found and the deals he attained.
Tim was a follower of Jesus Christ his entire life, striving to walk the path of a godly man, and while he was soft spoken and introverted, he was fiercely loyal and could always be counted on to help. Whether he was playing the piano at church, serving as treasurer and board member, offering intelligent insight into bible study discussions, or donating his earnings from picking walnuts to furthering world evangelism efforts, his beliefs were always at the forefront of his life.
Preceding him in death were his parents, both in-laws, two brothers-in-law, and his beloved cat Trixie.
He is survived by his wife, Bunny, of 42 years; daughter Sabrina (Edwards) and husband Jason Fleetwood of Clever, Missouri; daughter Melissa Heinlein of Springfield, Missouri; son Adam Heinlein of Nixa, Missouri; grandchildren Taylor Fleetwood of Aurora, Missouri and Haydan Fleetwood of Nixa, Missouri; one great-grandson born December 2024; brother Kevin Heinlein and wife Rondi; sister Gayla (Heinlein) Fravel; and a host of family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Special Forces Family Ministries (son Adam's residence) or Ozark First Church of the Nazarene World Evangelism Fund.
Funeral services for Timothy will be held at 11:30 A.M., Monday, January 27, 2025 in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark. Burial will follow at 1:00 P.M. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri. Visitation will be 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. Sunday, January 26, 2025 in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, Missouri. Online condolences may be shared at www.barnesfamilyfunerals.com.