Donald F. Heinze “Don”

Visitation Wednesday, May 19 from 9-10:45 AM at

St. Clare Catholic Church, 7616 Fritz Street in Wind Lake

Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Military Honors to follow

Heinze, Donald F.  “Don”

Wind Lake – Don went home to heaven on Tuesday May 4th, 2021 peacefully at the age of 90. He married the love of his life Dorothy (nee Pagel) on June 21, 1952. There were married for 68 wonderful years, longer than their parents.
He will be greatly missed by not only his wife, but his children Richard (Faye), Carol Ann (George) Papenfuss, Daniel (the late Mary Lee), Thomas (Debbie), and Steven (Brenda) Heinze. Proud Grandfather of Michael, Eric, Adam (Karrie), Maria, Josh (Krystal), Jenna & Kayla Heinze, Kimberly (Daniel) Crawford, and Brian (Haleigh) Field. Dear brother of Patricia (Tom) Liner, Beverly Butzlaff, and Joanne Heinze. Proud Great-Grandfather to Charlotte, Bruce, Edison, and RaeLynn. Further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Preceded in death by daughter Judith Marie and brother, Kenneth Heinze.

Visitation to be held Wednesday, May 19th, from 9AM to 10:45AM at St. Clare Catholic Church – 7616 Fritz Street in Wind Lake, WI. Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11AM, concluding with Honor Guard (Don was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corp. in 1953). Private interment at Holy Apostle’s Cemetery on Thursday, May 20th at 10AM.

Don had a great life with many jobs along the way and ultimately his career led to surrounding himself with music and the auto industry. His first job was being a paperboy for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. They would drop the papers on the corner 60th and North for him to deliver and some people would grab a paper and leave money to be picked up later in the day. In his later teenage years, he worked at grocery store on North Avenue, Tomilson’s shoe repair, and Langer’s Drug store counter making banana splits and selling cigarettes. He later went on to the West Allis Music Center where he was a music teacher, which is how he met and taught Dorothy Pagel (his future wife) how to play the accordion. He took another step by opening and owning three music centers, where he continued to teach lessons in Menomonee Falls and the surrounding area. This was taking place all while he had also started Don Heinze and his Orchestra and played gigs locally. They were regularly booked for weddings and even wore Beatle wigs in the 60’s while covering hit songs. They occasionally had floats in the local parades where they would play as well. When he played out we remember going along, staying up late and eating buffet food at very young age, and dancing of course! He was even a volunteer firefighter for the Germantown Fire Department in the 50’s.
He was involved with cars his entire life. He was a Pontiac salesman of the year in 1964 and 1965. He took Mom on numerous trips that he won with his coveted title. Some of the many dealerships he worked at over the years were Martz Chevrolet, Gettleman Pontiac Buick, Sommers, and Ernie Von Schledorn. What we liked most about dad working for dealerships was him bringing new cars home all the time. That does not mean all us kids fit in those cars, but we sure enjoyed them. He later moved us to Sauk City in 1968 and 1969 and started up his own new car dealership called Heinze Motors. We lived in a beautiful house on Park Avenue and Broadway near the Wisconsin River. The family joined a country club and hung out with wonderful people. He moved the family back to Menomonee Falls in 1970 and then managed Greenfield Motors, ran a Texaco station on Hwy 100 and Beloit Road, where we experienced the 1970’s gas shortage. Then he eventually went on to open again with Heinze Motors, Ron’s Auto, and retired with Star Motors on Hwy 100.
In 1975 he moved the family to Wind Lake, where he bought a service station and built a house above it for the family. He wanted a new start in a new community. He was a longtime member of the local Lions Club, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and was involved with starting the Wind Lake Street Fair with Mr. Novotny, which lasted for over 25 years. He went on to purchase more land near Hwy 36 that housed the local lumber yard. He turned that building into Wind Lake Auto Parts because he wanted the town of Norway to do better than it ever had before. Then along with Wind Lake Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts, he opened two more Bumper to Bumper Stores in Burlington and Paddock Lake. He sold off part of the land in Wind Lake for the existing Condo’s to be built. He had his own home residence moved down the street to make room. And with money raised and DNR approval for sewer & water, he secured a permit to build the Wind Lake Plaza to offer even more to the community. To date this Plaza has offered the community exactly what he wished for. Don and Dorothy have been members of St. Clare’s Catholic Church since moving to Wind Lake. He had many duties for the church over the years, and even helped plan and build the new church.
When we were young dad drove the pace car at Slinger Speedway for the Louis Gettlemen dealership. That’s when the legend Fuzzy (Hound) Fassbender (Who by the way was born in Sauk City and died when he was 90) and Miles Melius (Mouse) along with Billy (Cat) Johnson Jr. raced modified stock cars on dirt track. Racing reporters declared that the cat caught the mouse to win the race, and so on. My dad would take the whole family for $1 carload to races. Us kids would get a chance to hang out in the pits, and we remember sitting up high on the hill to watch all the action, and to always wave to dad in the pace car! From there we eventually sponsored Star Motors cars at Hales Corners Speedway and watched Whitey Harris rise to stardom for four generations. Also, Ken Schrader and Alan Kulwicki were seen taking final bits of glory there. Either Whitey Harris, Mike Melius, or Al Schill won almost every feature at the legendary Hales Corners Speedway before it closed in 2003. Since those days, multiple family members are very involved in racing at Wilmot and Road America. Cars have been in our blood for generations!
He always found time to take the whole family on summer vacations camping. He claims that the family has seen every waterfall in Wisconsin, which remains to be debated. Some of us went to New York World’s Fair and saw Niagara Falls when we were young. We went to Yellowstone National Park and fed the bears out our windows until dad put an end to that. In 1971 we all went to Disney World in Florida together. He took us to Wisconsin Dells to Water shows and to ride the duck boats. Our sister Judy probably went on the most vacations with Mom & Dad because they had more time to travel during those years. They went to Florida a lot along with Mary Liner and made some great memories. Whenever we would go on family trips dad would always map out highways and memorize them the night before, so when he was driving nobody could tell him where to go and he seemed to never be lost. Mom and Dad took the entire extended family to Branson, MO for their 50th Anniversary and we spent a week together eating, enjoying shows, golfing, and many other activities. Since then, we have had many family celebrations at Fox and Hounds which has to be his most favorite place, since he never stops talking about it. Apparently, the boys that parked cars there, who eventually purchased the place have made a profound impact on him. He is forever grateful that they remodeled and stayed open all these years, especially since his parents had been coming to the Friess Lake & Hubertus area for all their lives. We also have many memories at the Friess Lake cottage (owned by his parents) including family gatherings, reunions, and just Sundays in summer going on adventures.
He was known to all as a lighthearted sole with a kind heart. He enjoyed spending time with his large family and making everyone laugh. He held us up high on his hand when we were babies, he was so proud of us all the time. He would be on the floor at night after a long day at work and us kids would all pile on top of him laughing and giggling, until the bottom person got squashed. He was always saying that we could do anything that we put our mind too. There was no such thing as “can’t”. He would always remind us to “Do the best you can!”. We have very fond memories of all the times well spent with dad. He taught us to be kind and responsible, guided us to work hard, care for others, and be proud of who we are.
Don was especially proud to exemplify being married for 68 years to Dorothy. He was always very proud of all his children, grandchildren and their many achievements. We all love you and always will. See you in Heaven.

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