Richard "Dick" Heinig

Richard "Dick" Heinig, age 92, of Fayetteville, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019. He was born October 21, 1926, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to George and Florence Heinig. For 61 years he was a devoted husband to his wife Florence who passed away in 2009. He is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; sister, Doris Tribbey; and infant brother, John Heinig. He is survived by his son, James Heinig of Fayetteville; daughter, Beth McCarty and husband Jack of Fayetteville; and several nieces and nephews. Dick graduated Kankakee, Illinois high school in 1943. He attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before enlisting in the U.S. Navy and proudly served during WW II. Once discharged from the Navy he attended Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute "Penn State" and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In his 28 years with Bear Brand Hosiery he rose from foreman in Paxton and Kankakee, Illinois, to plant manager in Kearney, Nebraska. He then moved to Fayetteville in 1960 and retired as vice president of manufacturing in 1979. The next 13 years were spent in Sheboygan, Wis., while finishing his career at Wigwam Mills. His work in the textile industry resulted in several U.S. patents and many lifelong friends. Dick and Florence retired back to Fayetteville where he volunteered for 16 years with AARP free tax help program (Oh, and a bunch of other things his wife signed him up for). Besides photography and spending a great amount of time on Beaver Lake, Dick was a lifelong tinkerer and his mechanical ingenuity was boundless. There was nothing he couldn't repair or "improve" whether it needed it or not. He was happiest with a tool or fishing pole in hand, a camera around his neck and his family by his side. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Willard Walker Hospice, 325 E. Longview St., Fayetteville, Ark., 72703. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com.