- Date Of Birth: November 05, 1928
- Date Of Death: December 13, 2021
- City: Weldona
- State: Colorado
Robert George Heinle was born in Weldona, Colorado on November 5, 1928, to Adam and Rose Wells Heinle. He was the oldest of 5 children born to this union. Both sets of grandparents were German immigrants. Robert spent his entire life in Colorado and worked the sugar beet fields, as a boy, with his parents and siblings. He told many stories of crawling on his knees for hours “topping” the beets. It was a hard life, but a good life and he learned a strong work ethic from all his days in the sugar beet fields, during the depression. He lived in Atwood and Merino, near Sterling and on other farms in the Keensburg area. His parents eventually bought a home in Gilcrest. One of biggest events in his life happened when Robert was 17 years old. Robert and his 15-year-old brother were on their way to go duck hunting with their father when they failed to see a train approaching and drove onto the tracks and were hit. Both brothers were thrown 30 feet from the truck and the truck was destroyed. Miraculously both boys suffered non-life threating injuries. Dad loved showing the newspaper article and photo of the crash he miraculously survived. He worked as a lineman or R-E-A for many years and eventually went to work for Martin Marietta as a heat treater.
Robert met and married the love of his life, Ila, in 1953 and they were married in April of 1954. He and Ila lived in Greeley, and Denver and then eventually moved to their mountain home 12 miles west of Sedalia. In 1960 their first son was born, Allen and then in 1963 a second son Mark was born. Robert and Ila raised their boys in the mountain home they built themselves. It was a beautiful home full of love and happiness. Allen and Mark were brought up in a stable, loving, family with a dad and a mom who loved each other and the Lord. Both boys were brought up with the same work ethic that Robert and Ila both had. Helping dad with building projects, cutting the countless cords of wood each year to use to heat the home. Many Saturdays were spent together in the beautiful mountains at the sawmill behind the house. Both boys learned to drive a tractor and the truck at an early age. Everyone worked together.
Robert accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior when his boys were young and from that point on served his Savior well. He was faithful in his church attendance and served the church as a Deacon and in any way, he was needed. After retirement Robert and Ila sold the mountain home and moved to town where the work of plowing snow and cutting wood would cease. They lived in Aurora for a while then found their way back to the Ft Morgan, Brush area where they had a couple of beautiful homes. Robert and Ila traveled all over the country in their retirement years building churches. He enjoyed carpentry and loved serving in that way. Also, in his retirement years he decided to attend Pitkin College to learn more about auto body work. A hobby he enjoyed when he and mom were not out fishing in their boat. He played the accordion and loved polka music and hymns. Many family meals were prepared by mom and the boys were able to bring the grandchildren to spend time with their grandparents. The granddaughters have many fond memories of the time they spent with grandpa and grandma.
We could not have asked for a better husband, dad and grandpa and we are thankful for his testimony and for the 93 years he had here. He fought hard to stay with mom, in the last few years, as his health deteriorated. He fought valiantly enduring many years of dialysis. The doctors all marveled in his resilience. His favorite saying was: “I’m looking for the UPPER taker not the UNDER taker”.
Robert was never shy about his testimony and never hesitated to share Christ with anyone, the Lord put in his path. His desire was that all would come to the saving knowledge of Christ. We are confident that he heard those glorious words “Well done thou good and faithful servant” from his savior when he entered the gates of heaven. He will be missed but we look forward to that glorious day when we shall be reunited in heaven. Rest easy dad, we will take good care of mom. We love you.
Robert is survived by his loving wife Ila, of almost 68 years, his sons Allen and Mark and their wives La Rae and Chris; granddaughters Tawnya, Robin and Tula; grandson-in-laws Craig and Jonathan, seven great grandchildren and Robert’s sister Deloris Schlager of Cheyenne.
