***Please note the change in Celebration of Life Gathering location.
Charles L. Hein also known as “Country Chuck”, of Stockton, KS, passed away on June 18, 2024, at the University of Colorado Health Center in Aurora, CO, at the age of 84. He was born on June 8, 1940, to Lawrence and Florence (Mitsch) Hein in Gary, Indiana. He married Judith Ann E. Hrdlicka on October 7, 1961, in Hebron, Indiana.
Charles grew up in Merrillville, Indiana on a dairy farm. He graduated from Merrillville High School in 1957 where he was also named FFA Star Farmer. Later he graduated from Purdue University Agriculture Short Course. Charles worked as a farmer at Happy Note Farm and owned Happy Note Tack Shoppe and Arena in Crown Point, Indiana. He was also a bus driver for Crown Point Community Schools for 30 years.
Charles was a 4-H leader in Indiana for 60 years and served the Indiana Soil and Water
Conservation and Indiana Holstein Association. He loved to do karaoke to old country music and play the drums with his wife on the piano.
Charles is survived by his children, Victoria (Richard) Gianni of Stockton, Cynthia Granger of Crown Point, Indiana, and Kenneth Hein of Wheatfield, Indiana; brother, Thomas (Dee) Hein of Merrillville, IN; brother-in-law, Vernon Schreiber of Merrillville, IN; eight grandchildren, Kyle (Christine) Gianni of Morgantown, WV, Charles (Amber) Granger of Lake Village, IN, Courtney (Steve) McKinney of Lowell, IN, David (Casey) of St. John, IN, Daniel Granger of Crown Point, IN, Anna Marie (Eric) Biggs of Stockton, KS, Josephine Gianni of Scott City, KS, and Tyler (Savannah) Hein of Wheatfield, IN; ten great-grandchildren, Emmaline Dunlop, Susan Boles, Lucy Granger, Ellinore Granger, Waylynn Biggs, Weston Biggs, Wyatt Biggs, Jackson McKinney, Eden McKinney and Piper McKinney; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Hein; mother, Florence (Mitsch) Hein; brothers, Paul and Michael Hein; sister, Shirley Westcott; sisters-in-law, Nancy Hein and Mary Jane Schreiber; and son-in-law, Robyn Granger. His wife, Judith Hein recently passed away on July 24, 2024.
A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, 3-7PM at Stockton City Hall in Stockton, KS. Please come and go as you wish. A meal will be available throughout the gathering.
Memorials are suggested to Vicky Gianni to be designated at a later date and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com