John Bernard Heinz

John Bernard Heinz, 86, passed away on December 31, 2022 at Snyder Village in Metamora, IL after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born July 15, 1936, in Peoria, IL to Bernard and Amelia (Volz) Heinz. He was united in marriage to Helen McClanahan on August 13, 1960 in Metamora, IL, where they became lifelong residents and raised their three sons.

John is survived by his wife, Helen of Metamora; children, Bryan (Lisa) Heinz of Goshen, IN, Roger (Janice) Heinz of Batavia, IL, and Andrew (Peggy) Heinz of Glendale, MO; eight grandchildren, Justin (Hannah) Heinzekehr, Erica (Troy) Davidhizar, Allison (Matt) Witt, Andrea (Joshua) Stillman, Adam Heinz, Andrew Heinz, Leo Heinz, and Zoe Heinz; four great-grandchildren, Riley Davidhizar, Parker Davidhizar, Ellie Heinzekehr, and Conrad Heinzekehr; four siblings, sister Mary (John-deceased) Hoehne, brother Carl (Peg), brother Robert (Carol), and sister Karen (Paul) Gansch; and many nieces and nephews.

John was a devoted husband and caring father as well as a man of great faith. He was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Metamora, IL where he served as an usher for Sunday mass. Always well respected in his community, John served as trustee, village president, and mayor, contributing his thoughtful ideas with competence and humility.

John was an intelligent and intellectual man who enjoyed a long and successful career as an engineer at Caterpillar, Inc. while simultaneously serving ten years in the National Guard. Upon retiring, John and Helen traveled to numerous spring training games satisfying his passion as a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal's fan.

John was a man of varied interests and numerous talents. He was an avid gardener, coaxing cherries and peaches from his backyard trees and cultivating his tomato seedlings into prized specimens each summer. He took pride in sharing his beautiful amaryllis flowers, which he lovingly dug and replanted year after year. John was a highly skilled woodworker and crafted many pieces that have become cherished family treasures. John had a strong interest in genealogy and devoted many hours to studying his ancestry, which resulted in traveling to Germany to further explore his heritage and meet new family members.

John will be remembered for his positive outlook and selfless dedication to his family. His was a life well lived and he will be dearly missed and fondly thought of by all who were blessed to know him.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father David Kipfer officiating.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 am until mass time, also on Wednesday at the church.  Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Metamora.   In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to either St. Mary's School or St. Mary's Church, 415 West Chatham Street or the Snyder Village Resident in Need Fund, 1200 East Partridge Street, both Metamora, IL 61548.  Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.

St. Mary's School
400 West Chatham Street, Metamora IL 61548

Snyder Village Residents in Need Fund
1200 East Partridge Street, Metamora IL 61548

St. Mary's Church
415 West Chatham Street, Metamora IL 61548