Former Wheeling mayor remembered for sense of humor, outgoing personality

Bill Hein, who served as Wheeling village president from 1977 to 1981, is being remembered for his sense of humor, outgoing personality and bringing development to a place he called home since 1955.

Hein, who was 80, died Friday.

"He had his hands in a lot of things with the village," said Hein's son, also named Bill, who lives in Grayslake. "He loved Wheeling. He loved that town and the people in it."

Public visitation at Kolssak Funeral Home in Wheeling is 10 a.m. to noon Friday, April 17. Mourners can pick up a prayer card and see family members from a safe distance in the parking lot, and they can also drive by a large window with a view into the funeral home to see the casket.

A private burial will be held. The family is planning a memorial in late summer or early fall.

Current Village President Pat Horcher knew Hein through campaigning and through Hein's many contributions to Wheeling. Those include a long service as trustee, work on the board of fire and police commissioners, time with the Wheeling Historical Society and founding the village's farmers market.

"He was definitely a character," Horcher said. "He left his mark on the village. There was a lot of development that went on during his time."

Hein's original family business was a gas station, then an auto-parts store. The family opened Hein's Pub, and his final career came in real estate.

"I remember in the '70s when Wheeling was a really small town and started bringing in a lot of industrial development to the village and a lot of people were apprehensive about it and my dad was like, 'Down the road you will like what we did here with the tax base. Just give it some time,'" Hein's son said. "He kind of saw the future with the airport and the proximity to Milwaukee (Avenue) where it could be something where industry could really thrive in the area."

Hein, a great-grandfather, is survived by his sister Rosemary Bartman, his son, daughters Tracey Kleppin and Doreen Hein, and girlfriend of the past 20 years, Joan Weiner.

One of Hein's favorite activities was meeting friends for meals at Market Square Restaurant.

"He always had a pretty good sense of humor," Hein's son said. "He had a lot of long-term friendships. Talk about stuff going on in town. He really enjoyed it and really enjoyed spending time with people.

"I remember as a kid when he was on the fire department we would have Fourth of July parties at our house with a bunch of the fire department people. They would just tell stories of the early days with how the town started and different organizations started. Always good honest ribbing among friends."