Gerald Heinen

Gerald M. Heinen, age 78 of Albany, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at his home in Albany, Minnesota. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 26 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony with Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church. A rosary will be held at 4 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Gerald was born November 2, 1946 to Martin and Anna (Eiynk) Heinen. He grew up north of St. Anthony on a farm. In 1969 he started working at Electrolux in St. Cloud, and retired from that same company 43 years later, in 2012. In 1972, Gerald married Ione Cherne and they lived north of St. Anthony for 20 years before moving into Albany. 

Gerald was an active member in the St. Anthony Catholic Church throughout his life, and was a member of the men’s society and Holy Men’s Society as a council member in St. Anthony. Gerald looked forward to golfing (when the weather cooperated), fishing (no matter what the weather was like), sitting around a table with some cards and good friends and family, and going to the casino with his wife.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Ione Heinen of Albany; children, Suzie Beuning (Jeron Vos) of St. Cloud, Bryan (Jennifer) Heinen of Andover, Jesse (Sherry) Heinen of Milaca, and Shelly Keiffer (Mark Stumvoll) of Sartell; grandchildren, Ethan and Luke Heinen, Michael and Araya Heinen, Nathan (Tori) Keiffer, Morgan Keiffer, and Ashley Stumvoll; great-granddaughter, Hazel; siblings, Delores (Bob) Weyer of Sauk Rapids/Waite Park, David (Margaret) Heinen of Sartell, Rosemary Nienaber of Burtrum, and Vernon (Karen) Heinen of Albany; and sisters-in-law, Marie Heinen of Albany and Lorraine Heinen of Albany.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Anna, Norbert, Dorothy, Mildred, Margaret, and Arnold.