Robert Hein

     Robert Ralph "Bob" Hein was born March 16, 1942, to Ralph William and Dorothy Lorraine (Pryor) Hein on the farm south of Dunlap, Iowa. He was the oldest of five children. Bob attended Kellogg country school in Harrison County through the eighth grade. He graduated from Dunlap Community High School with the class of 1960. Bob attended Iowa State University (ISU), majoring in Mechanical Engineering and later changing to Industrial Education. He graduated at the end of the fall quarter 1965 with a B.S. in the industrial option. After graduation, Bob was commissioned 2nd LT, USAF, and was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, before deploying to Araxos, Greece. He ended his Air Force career at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, before separating from the service in 1969 with the rank of Captain. After the Air Force, Bob returned to Omaha, Nebraska where he worked as a cabinet maker. The family moved to Woodbine, Iowa, and then to York, Nebraska, for a short time while he worked as a carpenter on a church. Returning the family to Woodbine, Bob commuted to Omaha and helped build the Steamshed Restaurant, Old Market Spaghetti Works and Mr. Toad's Bar in addition to remodeling several prominent homes and business interiors. Construction slowed up, and in 1978, Bob built the family home in Avoca, Iowa and continued to do remodeling jobs. During this time, he went back to school at ISU and obtained his teaching certificate. In 1985, Bob secured a position at Walnut Community Schools teaching Industrial Arts. After 20 years, he retired and did odd jobs around the Avoca, Walnut and Oakland communities, including work as a Zoning Administrator for the City of Avoca and the maintenance man at two self-storage locations. In 1963, Bob met Elizabeth Ann Mathews at the Sunday night Methodist Church Fellowship while at ISU. They were married just before their last quarter of college on Labor Day weekend 1965. Their first daughter, Robin, was born in 1969, but passed away as an infant. Their second daughter, Melissa, was born in 1970. Their third daughter, Karen, was born in 1972. 

     Throughout his life, Bob pursued many hobbies including woodworking, collecting Hot Wheels, model railroading and working on cars and other machinery. He enjoyed solving all sorts of problems and finding a way to get the job done. "Papa fix" was the family's go-to phrase when troubles were encountered. His family and friends knew him best as a storyteller and talker, always ready to share a conversation with anyone he encountered...the best greeter Walmart never had. 

     Bob passed away at Elm Crest Nursing Home in Harlan, Iowa, late in the afternoon of December 10, 2025, at the age of 83. 

     Bob was proceeded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Robin; sister, Marlene Thompson; and nephew Charles “Chuck” Hutchins. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth of Avoca; daughter, Melissa Whitney of Lincoln, Nebraska.; daughter, Dr. Karen K. Hein of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.; granddaughter, Jessica (Collin) Humphrey of Lincoln; granddaughter, Hope Whitney of Lincoln; sister, Joanne (Jim) Siglin of Stark City, Missouri.; brother, Kenneth Hein of Dunlap; brother, Myrlen (Susan) Hein of Dunlap; honorary son, Vince (Tamera) Ploen of Harlan; nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

 In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials to honor Bob are preferred to the Nishna Valley Model Railroad Society (NVMRRS) in Harlan or to family for designation later.