Emil M. Heins

Emil Martin Heins, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Savior on April 4, 2026, at the age of 96.

Born on April 2, 1930, to Emil and Marvel (Hanson) Heins, Emil grew up with a love of faith, family, sports, and the outdoors—values that shaped his entire life. He married the love of his life, Rachel (Heuser) Heins, on January 29, 1953, and together they built a home filled with warmth, love, and devotion.

Emil’s legacy lives on through his children, Kim (Heins) Dobberstein and her husband Robert, and Dale Heins and his wife Suzanne (Koelling). He was a cherished brother to the late Roger Heins and to his sister, Delores (Heins) Potos. He is survived by several grandchildren, including Ryan Dobberstein; Mariel (Heins) Lanier and Ryan; Erika (Dobberstein) Ticcioni and Rick; John Dobberstein and Emily (Canfield); Julia (Heins) Flemming and Jack; Cody Dobberstein and Melissa (Stevenson); and Michael Heins. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Everett Lanier, Violette Lanier, Grace Ticcioni, Harper Dobberstein, Cora Lanier, and Archer Dobberstein.

Faith was central to Emil’s life. For 55 years, he faithfully served in jail ministry, visiting and corresponding with inmates right up until his passing. He founded the Royal Rangers program at Bethel Assembly, mentoring countless young men through outdoor adventures and Christian fellowship, and was active in many other church ministries. If a service was happening, Emil was there.

A man of remarkable vitality, Emil was passionate about sports and the outdoors. He played church softball, volleyball, and flag football, and spent countless days hunting, fishing, golfing, and camping. Yet his deepest passions were biking, snow skiing, water skiing, and running. He taught friends and relatives to ski—whether on water or snow—and always had a boat suited for both fishing and skiing. Even into his mid-nineties, Emil remained a fixture at his local gym, swimming and lifting weights nearly six days a week until just months before his passing.

His enthusiasm for fitness and competition earned Emil a place in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. He competed in running, biking, and jumping events, winning numerous medals, and proudly completed the seven-day “Bike Across Wisconsin” multiple times. He continued cycling on a recumbent bike through the summer of 2025.

Emil had an unmistakable flair for life. On the water, he was a showman—pulling off tricks on his skis just to make people laugh. On the softball field, he dove for balls he didn’t need to, just to entertain the crowd. Whether biking across Wisconsin or heading to the gym, Emil approached everything with energy and style.

A proud veteran of the Korean War, Emil served honorably for two years in the Air National Guard, part of the U.S. Air Force. That same dedication and cheerful spirit infused every part of his life.

Professionally, Emil was a skilled tool-and-die maker, spending 20 years at Allis Chalmers and another 20 at A. O. Smith, all while keeping his active lifestyle and generous heart. A man of tireless energy, he took on “side hustles” long before the term existed—driving a school bus and painting houses to help fund his sporting passions.

Emil gave freely of his time, talents, and resources, supporting numerous charitable causes throughout his 96 years. His faith, kindness, generosity, and zest for life will forever inspire all who knew him.

Services will be held at Church., located at 17770 West Cleveland Avenue, New Berlin, WI 53146, on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM, with a service at 10:30 AM, followed by lunch at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Church. or Samaritan’s Purse, continuing his lifelong devotion to service and the communities he loved.