Ernest William Heinen, Jr.

SSG Ernest William Heinen, Jr., retired, 78 of Vine Grove KY, passed away Tuesday, the 21st day of June, 2022 at the Baptist Health Hardin Hospital in Elizabethtown, Kentucky,

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey to Ernest & Margaret Heinen of Palisades Park, NJ. He honorably served in the US Airforce and the US Army, retiring after 20 years of service as a decorated Veteran.  His commendations were many, including serving during the Korean Defense period. He was given the honorable order of the Kentucky Colonels. He was also awarded the million miles safe driver award while as an over the road truck driver. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, PFC Ernest Matthew Heinen; Sisters-in-Law Alice Marie Marciani, Fran Heinen, and Tina Gandil; Brothers-in-Law, PFC Robert P. Gandil and Herbert O’Connell.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 57 years, Eileen Margaret Heinen; his two daughters, Laura Alice Roller (Randy) and Margaret Joan Clark (Billy); his grandchildren, Elizabeth Marie Roller, Samantha Margaret Roller (Keith), Jessica Nicole Storey (Andrew), SPC Matthew Ryan Storey, Brandon William Clark (Danielle) and Brayden Aren Clark; his great-grandchildren Allison Louise Blevins and Eliza Lea Morse; Sister Margaret P. Henning (William) and Brother Robert H. Heinen; Sisters-in-Law Victoria E. O’Neill and Karen J. O’Connell; Brothers-in-law Richard Marciani (Cathy), Dennis O’Neill, Richard Rechner (Barbara), and Lars Gandil; Son-in-Law James Storey (Heather) and many nieces and nephews.  

Visitation will be held at Chism Funeral Home in Vine Grove, Kentucky from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, July 5, and from 9:00 AM until 9:30 AM on Wednesday, July 6th. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Heinen is at 10:00 AM, Wednesday July 6th at St. Brigid Catholic Church in Vine Grove with the Rev. Jeff Gatlin officiating. Burial with military honors follows in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-Central in Radcliff.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Brigid Catholic Church Building Fund at 314 East Main St. Vine Grove, KY 40175 or Wounded Warrior through their website https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate.

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