Ex-Mundelein park board member dies at 71

Gordon Peter "Butch" Hein wasn't born in Mundelein, but he loved the town as if he were a native son.

He raised a family in town. He started a local business. He spent 20 years on the local park district board and coached youth sports.

"He adopted Mundelein as his hometown," said one of his sons, Libertyville police Lt. Chris Hein. "He was very proud of the town."

Mr. Hein, 71, died Tuesday at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville after suffering a heart attack at home, his son said.

Mr. Hein was born and raised in Hurley, Wis., and graduated from Hurley High School. He and his family moved to Wheeling and then to Mundelein in 1966.

His brother, Bill, is a former Wheeling mayor.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Mr. Hein worked as a machinist and a mechanic and eventually opened BC Auto Parts in downtown Mundelein.

Mr. Hein served on the Mundelein Park and Recreation District board from 1977 to 1997. he also was a member of the Mundelein-Libertyville Rotary Club, and coached junior football and Little League baseball.

Contributing to the community was very important to Mr. Hein, his son said.

"He got a lot of satisfaction meeting people he influenced or had impacted when they were kids in youth sports," Chris Hein said.

Mr. Hein also loved golf and was particularly proud of the park district's development of the Steeple Chase Golf Club, which opened in 1993.

"He golfed every week," said veteran park board member Ernest Shymanik, a longtime friend who served with Mr. Hein on the panel. "He always tried to get better."

After selling the family business to Lee Auto Parts, Hein worked various jobs until he retired about six years ago, Chris Hein recalled. He remained busy in retirement, however, playing golf and working as a ranger at Steeple Chase.

"It was his way to be part of Steeple Chase," Chris Hein explained.

Mr. Hein also cared for his wife, Juanita, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. They had four children and seven grandchildren, and he loved attending his grandkids' football games and wrestling matches, Chris Hein said.

"He was very proud of his grandchildren," Chris Hein said. "They were so important to him."

The way he took care of his family should be Mr. Hein's legacy, his son said.

Visitation is scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kristan Funeral Home, 219 W. Maple Ave., Mundelein. A service will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at Kristan.

Hein's survivors include: his wife; his mother; four children; and seven grandchildren.

Instead of flowers, memorials can be sent to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, Ill., 60674.