Donald Allen Heinrich – 94 of St. Anthony / New Brighton, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2024. Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Heinrich, brother Douglas Heinrich, children Tamara (Mark) Bratland, Stephen (Lisa) Heinrich, Michael Heinrich, stepchildren Paul Belisle, Scott Belisle, Barbara (Aaron) Roehler, 7 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ida Heinrich and brother Orville Heinrich.
Born on April 30, 1930, in Rush City, Minnesota, Don grew up on a dairy farm near the St. Croix river. He served with the Marines in the Korean War, and another 24 years of military service in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Sergeant First Class. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, worked at Honeywell & Control Data during the early NASA space missions, continued his education to become a Civil Engineer with Professional certification starting a long career as a Bridge Designer for the State Of Minnesota. Don was proud of the many highway bridges throughout Minnesota that he was part of designing.
He and Nancy lived in New Brighton for 38 years. They traveled through Europe and the US, visited every MN State Park and for 10 winters volunteered with the Marine Corp on the Hawaii Islands, restoring native gardens. They enjoyed having a picnic or driving to Two Harbors and feeding the seagulls. Don loved to garden, growing an abundance of cucumbers and tomatoes every summer, and spent considerable time on the family farm with his brothers, Orv and Doug. A man of quiet strength, Don balanced his career with his family and community. He served on the New Brighton Park and Rec Board for 17 years, encouraging the building of ball fields, bicycle trails and the community center, along with being a Deputy for the Ramsey County Sheriff. He was active in the Ostomy Society of Minnesota, following his battle with colon cancer, and most recently worked as a volunteer at the retiree center at the AirForce 94th Airlift Wing. His church was very important to him, and he was a regular volunteer.
Don will be remembered for his work ethic, humility and the lasting impact of his military and professional careers, and in the lives of those who knew him. His legacy will live on through the bridges he designed, the New Brighton Park improvements he nurtured from concept to reality, and the lives he touched.
A celebration of life service with military honors will be held on Saturday, October 26 at 11 am, at Elmwood Church in St. Anthony, visitation at 10 am. Interment will be on a later date at Fort Snelling. Memorials in honor of Don may be made to Elmwood Church.
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