Sylvester J. "Buss" Heinen

Sylvester J. “Buss” Heinen, 94, of Seneca, KS died Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Topeka Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Topeka.
      He was born on October 24, 1915 on a farm east of Kelly, to Barnhard “Barney” and Pauline Rennenger Heinen. He attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly and helped on the family farm.
      In October 1942 he entered the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific with the 96th Infantry Division supplying the front lines.  He was discharged in 1946 and returned to Kelly to farm with his brother Clarence Heinen on the family homestead.
      On October 24, 1949, he married Winifred A. Sack at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. They purchased a farm west of Corning where they raised white-faced Herefords and Black Angus cattle until 1978, when they moved into Seneca.  The couple celebrated 58 years of marriage, before Winifred’s death on February 15, 2008.
     He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Joseph Society in Seneca; and he was a former member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning, where he served as one of the first Eucharist lay ministers.  He was an Illinois Township Treasurer in the 1960s for four years. He enjoyed playing cards, gardening and woodworking.
     Survivors are two sons, Alan (Bev) of Corning and Steven of Topeka; two daughters, Joyce (Fred) Schober of Topeka and Linda (Randy) Ten Eyck of Wamego; a sister, Eleanor Ronnebaum of Seneca; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
      Besides his wife, he preceded in death by brothers, Clem, Lambert, Lawrence, Joe, Albert and Clarence Heinen and sisters, Alvina Rettele, Otilla “Tille” Rice, Julia Konrad, Isabel Wilhem and Ann Heinen.
      Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, January 15, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca; burial will be in the church cemetery.  Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 pm Thursday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
     Memorials may be given in his memory to Sts. Peter & Paul Church or to St. Patrick’s Church, and can be sent in care of the family.