Gilbert Marion Heinz of Kickapoo Township

Gilbert Marion Heinz was born on May 17, 1924, in Kickapoo, Peoria County, Illinois, the fourth child of Alex P. and Rosella V. (Gilles) Heinz. Raised on the family farm, he was educated in the local community and helped with agricultural work until he joined the U.S. Army in 1943. During his service in the European Theater of World War II, he participated in the historic D-Day invasion at Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in the leg in France on August 20, 1944, earning the Purple Heart medal before receiving his honorable discharge in 1946.

Following the war, he returned to Illinois and married Ruth Cook Rogers on August 20, 1947, at St. Mary's Church in Kickapoo. Gilbert adopted Ruth’s son from a previous marriage, Michael Heinz (born November 6, 1946), who later married Norma Jean Rodriguez. Together, Gilbert and Ruth had five more children: Joyce E. Heinz (born August 27, 1948), who married Danny Laverne Baggott; Randall P. Heinz (born January 12, 1951), who married Karol Million; Cheryl R. Heinz (born November 1, 1954); Roland J. Heinz (born December 7, 1955); and Richard M. Heinz (born August 19, 1958). 

This chapter of his life was marked by tragedy when Ruth, at age 33, was killed in a two-car crash on the Interstate 74 bridge on March 31, 1962. Gilbert remarried Elinor Crowder Dunlap on January 16, 1965. In a heartbreaking repetition of fate, Elinor was also killed in an automobile accident on October 15, 1967, and was interred at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kickapoo. 

In 1969, Gilbert found lasting companionship with Marilyn Arnold, whom he married in Missouri. They moved to Rushville in 1970 and had two children: Gilbert Heinz (born May 1, 1969) and Marnie Heinz (born February 7, 1971), who later married Brian Eskridge.

Professionally, Gilbert was known for his extraordinary work ethic, retiring in 2004 after more than 59 years as a bulldozer operator. He was a dedicated member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Rushville and the Schuyler American Legion Post 4. Gilbert passed away at the age of 81 on June 12, 2005, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He was buried at St. Patrick Cemetery in Kickapoo following a funeral mass at St. Mary's Church. At the time of his passing, he was survived by his wife, Marilyn, his children, 24 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.