Lowell Stanley Heinrichs
1936 - 2021
Lowell Stanley Heinrichs, 84, passed
away March 19, 2021 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS. He was born
in Hillsboro, KS on June 6, 1936 to Peter and Lillie (Boese)
Heinrichs. He grew up in the Canton, KS area and attended the Emma
Valley Grade School and graduated from Goessel High school in 1954.
He attended the Springfield Mennonite Church near his home and was
baptized in 1950.
On June 1, 1956, Lowell married Bonita
Unruh at Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel, KS and entered 1-W
service in Evanston, IL. There they both worked as nurse aids. After
two years in 1-W service, Lowell and Bonnie moved back home to
Hillsboro, KS where Lowell learned the autobody trade and worked at
the Hillsboro Body Shop for 10 years. Lowell then worked at Reimer
Body Shop as the shop foreman for the next 30 years. Two sons were
born to the couple, Romney and Kendall. In 1970, Lowell and Bonnie
purchased and moved to the farm where the boys grew up and attended
school in the Goessel.
Lowell and Bonnie joined the Tabor
Mennonite Church where Lowell was an active member serving as a
trustee, usher, and singing in Men's groups. Lowell sang in the Tabor
Men's Quartet, providing music for many functions. Lowell enjoyed
fishing and camping trips with family and friends. The family raised
sheep and worked hard fixing up the family farm, planting trees, and
doing landscape projects to improve the property. After retiring from
Reimer Body Shop, Lowell started a body shop at their home in rural
Goessel. Lowell's son, Romney, began working with Lowell doing
collision work and restoring many classic cars, specializing in
Mustangs. Lowell enjoyed restoring cars and tractors and liked doing
quality work for his customers. A highlight was taking these cars and
tractors to shows and visiting with people about them. Owning his own
business and working with his son were the most enjoyable and
rewarding years of his body shop career. Lowell also enjoyed
repairing and painting cars and tractors to be sold at the MCC Sale
in Hutchinson.
Lowell and Bonnie enjoyed living on the
farm until 2020 when they sold the farm property and moved to
Lakeside Apartments in Hesston, KS. There he enjoyed fishing at Lake
Vista and gardening.
Lowell is survived by his wife Bonnie;
son, Romney (Donna) Heinrichs, grandchildren, Andrew and Katrina of
Hesston, KS; son, Kendall (Jana) Heinrichs, grandchildren, Vanessa
and Logan of Wichita, KS; and sister, Carol (Walt) Friesen. He was
preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Lillie Heinrichs; and
sister, Wanda (Richard) Harms.
Cremation is planned with family
greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 26, 2021 at
Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Goessel. Memorial services will be held at
10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 27, at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural
Newton. Memorial contributions may be made to Tabor Mennonite Church
or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral
Home, PO Box 96, Goessel, KS 67053.
