Bruce A. Heinze

Bruce was born to Julian H. Heinze and Mabel Virginia (Hart) on February 7, 1938, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Growing up he enjoyed playing basketball, ice skating, and listening to sports broadcasts on the radio, as well as running his daily paper route. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1956 and began attending Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. At the beginning of the Vietnam War, Bruce was drafted into the US Army and stationed as an MP in Hanau, Germany. In 1963, he received an honorable discharge and returned to Fort Wayne where he began courting Marjorie Runser. On June 20, 1964, they were married at Precious Blood Catholic Church and a year later welcomed their first daughter, Deborah.

Bruce worked for Falstaff Brewery, cleaning the giant vats used to make and store beer, while attending Indiana Tech; he graduated with a BS in chemical engineering in 1967. Shortly after graduating he was hired by Dow Chemical – Midland, Miand relocated to Midland. Not only did Bruce excel at his job, becoming the plant’s Safety Supervisor, he also served his community as an active member of St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. He was a Eucharistic Minister, emceed Bingo games and bake sales, and served on several committees. In 1973, Bruce and his wife welcomed their second daughter, Diane.

In 1981, Dow Chemical transferred Bruce to the plant in Plaquemine, LA, where he became Safety Supervisor. Bruce retired in 1998, after 31 years as a Senior Environmental Hygienist. Retirement did not slow Bruce down. He was a faithful member of the St. George community for 40 years, serving as an Usher. Bruce loved spending time with his family, whether it was spending a summer at the cottage on Glen Lake, MI, boating, skiing, or tubing, or bike riding around the neighborhood when his grandsons were young. Bruce also enjoyed watching his grandsons’ football and soccer games. Bruce loved watching sports, especially LSU, and he never missed an opportunity to watch LSU athletics. He also loved to landscape and tend to his roses, always keeping lawn golf course perfect. He was talented vocally and could play a mean set of drums. He was also known to “cut a rug” with his wife Marjorie at social gatherings and in the den at home. Bruce was a proud member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Julian H. Heinze and Mabel V (Hart) of Fort Wayne, IN; brother, John “Jack” Heinze (Phyllis) of Angola, IN; sister, Sandra Kirmer (Mike) of Santa Fe, NM; and daughter, Deborah Heinze of Plano, TX. He is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie; daughter, Diane Harris (Chad); grandsons, Gage Harris (Madison), Gabriel Harris (Kayleigh) and Gram “Bear” Harris; and great-grandchildren, Brinley Lynne, Baylen Reid, Gabe Jr, and Sadie Garland, all of Denham Springs.

Services will be held on September 18, at St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge with visitation beginning at 9:30 am, followed by a mass at 11:00 am. Interment at St. George Mausoleum will follow immediately after mass with a reception at the Kleinpeter Activity Center, where light refreshments will be served.

Our family would like to thank the nursing staff at OLOL Hospital, the staff at Audubon Home Health Care and Hospice Service for the dignity, care and compassion that they showed our family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bruce’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center Tunnels to Towers, or St. George Catholic Church.