Louis George Heinecke's
obituary appeared in the Utica (MI) Sentinel, Sec. 2, p. 1 on Dec. 31, 1959. It
reads as follows:
"During his many years
of ministry, Pastor Heinecke received calls to serve his Saviour in various
fields of Kingdom work. He received his final call to be at his Savior's side
on Monday, Dec. 28, 1959, with the words of Jesus spoken to him, "Well
done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord."
The Rev. Louis G. Heinecke was born on October 3, 1891, at
Frankentrost, Blumfield Township, Saginaw County, Michigan, the son of the Rev. Edward Heinecke and his wife, Augusta Dorow
Heinecke. He was baptized in the Christian faith on October 4th of the same
year at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church at Frankentrost.
After completing elementary schooling at St. John's Lutheran
Church of Riley (St. Johns, Michigan), he entered training for the holy
ministry at Concordia College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, completing his studies at
Concordia Theological Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri in 1915. The same year he
was ordained into the holy ministry at his first charge, St. John's Lutheran
Church of Cheboygan, Michigan. He held subsequent pastorates at St. Michael's
Lutheran Church of Belknap Township (Rogers City), Michigan; in the ministry to
the deaf; and at Trinity Lutheran Church of Utica, Michigan, where he served as
pastor since 1937.
Pastor Heinecke also served the Church as a member of the
boards of the Lutheran School for the Deaf in Detroit and the Michigan Lutheran
Children's Friend Society, Circuit Counselor, and until recently as member of
the District Board of Directors.
In 1915 he was united in marriage with Agnes Charlotte Mezger, who survives. This marriage was blessed
with seven children, all of whom survive him: Walter of Utica; Mrs. Lois
Huggins of South Pasadena, California; Paul (Rev.) of Detroit; Godfrey of
Utica; Mrs. Elyse Reynolds of Valparaiso, Indiana; Mrs. Margaret Eickoff of
Atlanta, Georgia; and Miss Rhoda of New York City. He is survived
also by 16 grandchildren; his brothers, Theodore, of Monroe; Martin of St.
Louis, Missouri; Rev. Herman of Rogers City, Michigan; Edwin of Santa Ana,
California; Walter of Palo Alto, California; and by one sister, Mrs. Irene Witt
of St. Johns, Michigan. Preceding him in death were four brothers, Albert,
Immanuel, Ernest, and Edward; and two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Wieler and Mrs. Dora
Kampfe.
Pastor Heinecke was summoned to his eternal home on Monday,
December 28, 1959. Christian funeral services will be conducted at Trinity
Lutheran Churh of Utica on Thursday, December 31, 1959, at 1:30 p.m., and
Christian burial under the auspices of the same church at Glen Eden Memorial
Park of Farmington, Michigan.
Pastor Heinecke's body will lay in state at the Church from Tuesday noon until
the hour of service at 1:30 Thursday afternoon.
An honor guard will be stationed at the Church, around the
clock, until the hour of service. Anytime, day or night, one may go to pay his
respects.
Officiants at the Church will be the Rev. N.M. Streufert and
Rev. F.E. Kipp, and the preacher will be the Rev. E.C. Weber. In charge of the
committal at the Glen Eden Memorial Park will be Rev. Streufert.
Pastor Louis G. Heinecke served not only his Church and its
members, but was active in the entire community.
His fortieth year in the ministry, 1955, was celebrated on a
Sunday afternoon in the High School gymnasium when the hall was packed, not
only with members of his parish, but from hearly every home in the area, where
his name was loved and respected. A substantial amount was given him for a trip
to the Holy Land which he never realized. The weight of building a new church
began to weaken him physically. He was determined to see the new Church
completed ahead of schedule, in 1956.
This beautiful edifice will always stand as a monument to
his work in Utica.
He was a member of the Utica Rotary Club but this, too, he
had to leave because of his illness and the work of his Church.
Pastor Heinecke died in the service of his church. He
planned to preach his farewell sermon on New Year's Day when his retirement
became effective."
Rev. Louis Heinecke's record of service in the
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod:
1915
Cheboygan, Michigan
1915-1919 Ayr, Michigan
1919-1926 Belknap Twp. (Rogers City), Michigan
1926-1930 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1930-1937 Belknap Twp. (Rogers City), Michigan
1937-1959 Utica, Michigan