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Omar Heins, 96, died peacefully in his sleep on January 17, 2008. Omar was born in Corder, MO on November 30, 1911, the sixth child of Adolf Conrad and Flora Marie Frerking Heins. His parents brought him to Jesus for his baptism on Christmas Eve 1911 at Zion Lutheran Church in Corder, MO. His mother died when he was ten years old and he subsequently moved to Ruskin, NE to live with his sister, Lucile Deterding, and joined his younger brothers, Roscoe and Melvin. He confirmed his Christian faith in 1928 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Ruskin, NE. In 1932, his sister, Lucile, convinced him to go to college. Omar graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1936 with an Electrical Engineering degree. Following a year in Hastings, NE working for a Power and Irrigation District, he was hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1938. The next year he found employment with the Department of Agriculture in Albuquerque. In March of 1941, Omar was called into active duty in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, as he had taken R.O.T.C. at the University of Nebraska. He served with numerous Armored Divisions before being ordered to join the 778th Tank Battalion as a staff officer. In September of 1944, he joined Patton's Third Army in France and the Tank Battalion along with the 95th Infantry Division moved through France and into Germany taking in 109,000 German prisoners, many fleeing from the Russians to surrender to the Americans. He was promoted to the rank of Major by General Patton on January 1, 1945 and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. He retired from the Army Reserves at a Lt. Colonel and returned to Albuquerque in December of 1945. A year later, Omar accepted a position with the Atomic Energy Commission at Sandia Base, subsequently renamed Sandia National Laboratories, as an Electrical Engineer and remained there until his retirement 1974. He built his home on 1314 Columbia Drive NE in the 1950's and lived there until his death. Omar was gifted. At 17, he painted a 2x3 foot picture of the Matterhorn which hung in his home all of his life. Drawings from a college art class reveal his talent, and his photographs reveal his eye for creation. He learned from his Uncle Alfred in Ruskin, NE how to repair harnesses and shoes for the farmers. He had his own painting business while living there. He enjoyed traveling and first traveled across America in his Model T. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling around the world. He enjoyed sports and saw Alabama beat Washington State at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day in 1931. He was a good steward of his finances and has gifted numerous organizations with his estate. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred, and his second wife, Mary; his brothers, Ralph, Norbert, and Melvin; his sisters, Lucile Deterding, Vera Slaughter and Ramona Lovci. He is survived by his brother, Roscoe, of Poulsbo, WA and many nieces and nephews. A military Graveside Service was held on January 26, 2008 at Sandia Memory Gardens. Memorial gifts may be presented to The Ranches, 6209 Hendrix Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110. Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010 www.danielsfuneral.com
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