Richard Heinlen

Richard "Rick" Heinlen, 66, of Brainerd, MN died Sunday, May 24, 2015 at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Baxter, MN, after a courageous fight with brain cancer. Funeral services for Richard will be 11:00AM, Saturday, May 30, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN with Pastor John Stiles officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation from 5:00-7:00PM, Friday, May 29, 2015 at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN and one hour prior to services at the church.

Rick was born November 29, 1948 in St. Paul, MN to Richard and Katharine (Hohl) Heinlen. He grew up in Longville and graduated from Walker High School in 1966. He served in the US Army Reserve. Rick was united in marriage to Diane Swankier on October 19, 1968 in Brainerd, MN. He began working for MN DOT in 1968 where he worked for traffic and design until his retirement in 2010. When he retired, he built and remodeled homes in the Brainerd Lakes area. The last several years he sprayed lawns with his friend, Lee Nelson. Rick enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, vacationing in Mazatlan.

Rick is survived by his wife, Diane; children Jeff (Cindy) Heinlen of Baxter, MN, Paul (Mindy) Heinlen of Baxter, MN, and Kent Heinlen (Darcy Rakow) of East Gull Lake, MN; ten grandchildren; siblings, Dan Heinlen of Peoria, AZ, Kathy (Jim) Anderson of Fountain Hills, AZ; mother-in-law, Bette Swankier of Remer, MN; brother and sister-in-laws; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Katharine Heinlen; grandparents, John and Mary Heinlen, Jacob and Kate Hohl; father-in-law, Glenn Swankier; sister-in-law, Mary Welk; brother-in-laws, Don Welk and John Swankier. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.