Robert Alan Hein

was born on July 4, 1934 in Hammond, IN. He died January 31, 2015 at his home with his family around him after 2 ½ year battle with cancer. He and his brother, Kenneth, grew up in Hammond and went to Bishop Knoll High School. When he graduated, he went to Purdue where he met Anne. They married in 1956 in Bloomington, IN. Anne and Bob went back to Purdue where Bob finished his degree in Mechanical Engineering. Bob was part of the Purdue marching band and played the saxophone both in the band and in the alumni band. He remained a diehard Purdue fan throughout his life. In fact, his children can recite parts of the Purdue fight song. Bob had several different engineering jobs where his last one was working for himself. He owned an air conditioning and heating business where he worked until a few months before his death.

His joy in life was his family. He and Anne had four girls: Sarah Hein, Gretchen Hein (Bruce Beaudoin), Ruth Shupak (James Shupak) and Colista Leiter (Andrew Leiter). In his later years, he loved seeing his grandchildren: Ian, Siona and Jenna Beaudoin; Emily, Tommy, and Annie Shupak; and Zachary, Austin, Caleb and Jordan Leiter. The newest member of his family was his dachshund, Gracie. She was his companion throughout the last three years of his life.

A close second to his family was his love of cars. He would take Anne on a date to park along the Wabash River while he polished his DeSoto. When his children were young he began going on old car tours. When the family was small, they had a Ford rumbleseat car. When Ruth was small, they upgraded to a Ford Model A. When Colista was born, they moved up to a 1941 Plymouth 4 door sedan which he had until his death. Anne and Bob belonged to Historic Auto Club, Viper Club and the Plymouth Club. He continued to go to car club conventions, tours and activities until shortly before his death.

Bob will be missed by family and friends.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 4 from 5 – 7:30 pm at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary. Visitation will also be Thursday, February 5 from 10 – 11 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius Catholic Church at 11 am.