Max Heintz Sr.

Max F. Heintz passed away January 23, 2016. He was preceded in death by all seven of his siblings, and his beloved wife Marlyn of 62 years. He is survived by daughters Mary Heintz of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Susan (Jack) Schultz of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sheila (John) Heieck of Tucson Arizona,   Max (Laura) Heintz Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, Elizabeth (Daniel) Smith, of Bigfork Montana, and Ben (Jayne) Heintz of Mankato Minnesota. Max is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was born October 3, 1923 in Florence, South Dakota, and lived there until graduation from High School in 1940. He attended one year of college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, and one year at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis before being drafted into the United States Army. From June of 1942 through December of 1945 he was stationed in the South Pacific where he fought in some of the bloodiest battles of the War. Upon returning from the War he married Marlyn Farl of Watertown South Dakota, who Max had met while attending the University of Minnesota. He said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

Max held several sales positions in the automobile business before finally purchasing a ½ interest in a Pontiac/Cadillac dealership in Mankato Minnesota for $15000. He lost money in the first two months of business but never had a “red” month thereafter. He was an excellent businessman and the dealership thrived. He had the prescience to purchase the Toyota franchise in 1971, at a time when no one knew what a Toyota was. He started transferring the business to his son Ben in 1990 and completed that process in 2004. That business has also thrived and survives today as Heintz Toyota, Inc.

Max was a member of the “Greatest Generation” that is quickly passing from our midst. He endured the privations of the Great Depression, the horror of World War II, and was witness to the seminal events of the 20th Century. He had multiple surgeries and health setbacks that he endured with a stoic attitude and determination. He believed in old fashioned notions of hard work, thrift, economy, family, small-town America and loyalty. He is also known for a one-of-a-kind sense of humor, along with some world-class pranks and puns.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 30, 2016 11:00 A.M at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato, Minnesota. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mankato, Minnesota. Visitation will be Friday January 29, 2016 from 5-7 P.M. at the Northview – North Mankato Funeral Home 2060 Commerce Dr. North Mankato, Minnesota. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Marlyn Heintz Scholarship Fund, c/o Mankato Area Foundation, Suite 100, 127 S. 2nd Street, Mankato, MN 56001