Anton Michal Heyns

He was born in Ermelo, South Africa on June 11 1939 to Roux and Elza Heyns. Anton attended high school in Harrismith, earned degrees from the University of Stellenbosch, University of the Free State, and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of South Africa in 1966. From 1971-1972 he worked as a postdoc in Edmonton, Alberta and first experienced the American West on a road trip with Margaret. In 1978 he received a von Humboldt prize and as a result worked at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart, Germany, a country he loved and visited many times since. He was a professor of Chemistry at the University of South Africa 1967-1984, and the University of Pretoria 1984-1998 where he held positions of head of Chemistry, and vice-dean of science faculty. In 1995 he was honored with the Havenga prize for Chemistry from the South African Academy of Science and Arts. After moving to Worthington, Ohio in 1998 Anton worked for Chemical Abstract Services and lectured at the Ohio State University until his retirement in 2010. Anton was a member of the Worthington Presbyterian Church where he served as elder for several years.

Anton is survived by his wife of 49 years Margaret, son Roux, and sister Frieda van Rensburg. He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Ilse.

A memorial will be held at 11am on Saturday, October 12 at the Worthington Presbyterian Church, 773 High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085. A reception will follow. The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation is made to Kobacker House.