Obit: Heindl, Paul Arthur Sr. (1949 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Alvarez, Bakshi, Geiger, Heil, Heindl, Lewandowski, McAnerin, Olson, Posner, Smith, Yochum

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 4/20/2016

Heindl, Paul Arthur Sr. (20 JUL 1949 - 12 APR 2016)

Paul Arthur Heindl Sr. passed away on April 12th, 2016, surrounded by family in Spokane WA following his battle with post stem cell transplant complications for Leukemia treatment.

The second of seven children, Paul was born on July 20th, 1949, to Lawrence and Adeline Heindl. He was raised on a family dairy farm on the outskirts of Dorchester, WI where he learned the importance of family values and hard work, both of which he would carry with him throughout his life.

Paul married Alva Smith in 1970 and had four children while continuing to live in the Dorchester. He worked various jobs in his younger years including doing construction, local manufacturing and driving truck before settling into independent long haul truck driving. The family moved into the Suncrest community on the outskirts of Spokane, WA on May 18th, 1980, the same day Mt. Saint Helens erupted. Paul continued to long haul and was particularly known throughout the Northern portions of the continental US for his big red custom built Western Star and aluminum flatbed trailer. Paul sold his semi, gave up long hauling and went to work for Thunderbird Lubrications driving fuel truck in 1984. The following year the family moved into the Gonzaga District of Spokane until 1999 when the ranching life called to him. Paul retired from driving fuel truck approximately 10 years ago and made working the Sunrise Ranch his life until his illness in 2014.

He will always be remembered as a hard working, tell it like it is, badass with a hard exterior and heart of gold. He loved his cribbage, his ranch, his family, those he adopted like family and his many friends. He was a dad, brother and friend to many and will be deeply missed by all.

Paul is survived by brother Eugene Heindl of Dorchester, WI; sister Karen Lewandowski and brother-in-law Ken Lewandowski of Wausua, WI, sister Patricia Heil and brother-in-law Dan Heil of Marathon City, WI, sister Judy Bakshi and brother-in-law Bobby Bakshi of Bellevue, WA, sister-in-law Ruthie Heindl of Big Bend, WI; cousin Richard Geiger of Davenport, WA, daughter Denise Ann Alvarez of Portland, OR; daughter Paulette Marie Yochum and son-in-law Ed Yochum of Colville, WA, son Clinton Paul Heindl and daughter-in-law Ann Heindl of Stevensville, MT, son Paul Arthur Heindl Jr. and daughter-in-law Shannon Heindl of Spokane, WA; and grandchildren Sabrina Alvarez, Kevin Yochum, Dominique Alvarez, Justin Yochum, Kendrick Alvarez, Samantha Heindl, Elizabeth Heindl, Logan Heindl, Adeline Heindl and Luke Heindl.

He was a father figure and "adopted" many others including Blake and Sherice McAnerin of Metaline Falls WA, Dana Posner of Brooklyn NY, Andrew Petrone of Spokane WA, and Matt and Lacey Olson of Clayton WA.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Andrew Heindl and Adeline Ann Geiger Heindl; two siblings, David Heindl, Jeffery Heindl; and former wife Alva Louise Smith Heindl.

Paul will be cremated and his ashes laid to rest at the Spring Creek Cemetery located on Spring Creek Grange Road (approximately 6 miles North of Reardan off Hwy 231). All are invited to an informal gathering at Noon on April 23rd at the Sunrise Ranch for a cribbage and horseshoe tournament.