Raymond G. Heinke

Raymond G. Ray Heinke, 66, of Pecatonica passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family.
Born August 20, 1946 in Chicago, the son of Gunter Frank and Alice V. (Johnson) Heinke.
Ray married Susan Sue Platt in Belvidere on March 20, 1987.
He worked as a maintenance mechanic for Rock River Water Reclamation District for 15 years.
Ray and his family raised American Paint Horses for many years and was a longtime member of the American Paint Horse Association serving as a National Director.
Through the years he was involved in the Wisconsin Paint Horse Club, the Illinois Paint Horse Association and the Illinois Pinto Horse Association.
Ray was very involved in the Winnebago County 4H Horse Program and the Boy Scouts of America.
He enjoyed restoring and showing classic cars as well as camping and fishing all over the United States and Canada.
He loved to watch his grandson, Alex, with his sports.
Rays family would like to give a special thank you to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Able Home Health and Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care.

Ray is lovingly survived by his wife, Sue of 25 years; daughters, Tammy (Keith) Christiansen of Roscoe and Paige (Cole Woolever) Heinke of Pecatonica; stepsons, Mike (Jodi) Strzalko and Rob Strzalko; grandchildren<, Alex Ray Christiansen, Jack and Grace Strzalko; twin brother, Allan (Marjie) Heinke of Algonquin; brotherinlaw and sisterinlaw, Scott (Cindy) Platt of Stockton; nephew, Bryce Platt; niece, Tracy (Brian) Spitzer; godson and nephew, David (Krista) Heinke; fatherinlaw, Ralph Platt and numerous special friends.
Predeceased by his parents, and motherinlaw, Florence Platt.

Memorial service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2012 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd, with Reverend Mary Bielke, Heartland Hospice Chaplain, officiating.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the funeral home.
Rays family would like to invite friends with classic cars to drive them to the service on Thursday to honor Ray.
While flowers are always an appropriate expression of sympathy, the Heinke family would appreciate that Ray be honored through memorial donations in his name to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Heartland Hospice, 6885 Vistagreen Way Rockford, IL 61107.