James (Jim) Heinrich
September 26, 1933 – April 30, 2024
James Arthur Heinrich was born in Au Gres, Michigan on September 26, 1933, to John and Gertrude Heinrich. He was the youngest of three children and raised on the family farm.
After graduating high school in 1952, he joined the Air Force. He was stationed stateside during the Korean War as a mechanic in the 1707th Heavy Bomber Wing, where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On June 4, 1956, the day of his honorable discharge, he left the base, drove to the church, and married his bride Barbara Caroline (Cave) and they stayed together for the next 67 years. For their honeymoon, they took a road trip around Florida stopping at the beach, Silver Springs, and Marineland. They settled down in Miami where Jim attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. After graduating, he started his career at Eastern Airlines as an aircraft mechanic. He was a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
While in Miami, he saw the potential for greater opportunity in the small but growing city of Orlando, and soon after he moved his family to the Tuscawilla community in Seminole County. New to the area, Jim and his family joined the First United Methodist Church of Oviedo in 1976, where he served in a variety of ways including maintaining and repairing the church vans and ushering on Sundays. He was a member of the Men's Club for many years, enjoyed helping with the men’s breakfast and washed a lot of dishes. After retiring from Eastern Airlines in 1987, he took a job at UPS and worked at the Orlando International Airport until he retired for a second time in 1999.
Jim was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Christian Help Food Pantry, and the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed hunting in the Everglades, beekeeping, was an active homebuilder, landlord, land developer, and pursued the financial markets as an exceptional stock picker. He enjoyed working hard and had an insane work ethic.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, brother Robert, children Steven, Thomas, Suzanna and Andrew, grandchildren Tiffany, Brittany, Alex and Hannah as well as four great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents and sister, Mary Marshall.
Dad, we will miss you, terribly. You were our rock and a great provider. You were someone we could count on and our comfort when we needed support. Because of you, our lives have been enriched, and as a family, we have been blessed.
A service will be held on May 8, 2024, at 2 p.m., at First Methodist Church of Oviedo, 263 King Street, Oviedo, Florida 32765, in the historic sanctuary.
