by April Scheinoha
Reporter
It was only natural that Thief River Falls resident Art Heinze, 76, would volunteer. He grew up in Belgrade, watching his parents volunteer.
Heinze and Gretchen Beito will be recognized as Pennington County’s Outstanding Seniors on Friday, July 17 at the Senior Citizens Program during the fair. The program will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the bus garage. They will be recognized for their volunteer work.
“I don’t know if I’m worthy of it,” said Heinze, who noted there are others who are worthy of such an honor.
Heinze’s volunteer activities could make one’s head spin. “I always say, ‘If you’re bored, you’re boring.’ I haven’t had time to be bored,” he said.
Over the years, Heinze has volunteered with a multitude of organizations. “I have the time, and I guess I like to share my abilities,” he said.
Heinze has volunteered with the Thief River Falls Area Food Shelf, Pennington County Humane Society, Pennington County Sportsman Club, St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, the Northwest Medical Center Foundation, the Little Brother/Little Sister Program and the Thief River Care Center Board. Heinze has volunteered with most of those organizations for five years or more.
The above list is just the tip of the iceberg. Heinze’s name is synonymous with the Boy Scouts organization in Thief River Falls. About 35 years ago, he became involved with the group. At the time, he was a member of the Jaycees, a now-defunct organization that formerly sponsored the Boy Scouts’ annual hobby show. Over the years, Heinze has helped with fundraising, served on Eagle Scout Boards of Review, helped raise awareness about disabilities and completed a cooking demonstration.
Heinze has forged lasting relationships through his volunteer activities with the Boy Scouts. While serving as a Webelos assistant den leader, he met a boy named Justin, who was in the fourth or fifth grade at the time. Justin wanted to build a toolshed, so the two of them built it in Heinze’s garage. Sometime later, he wanted a larger, walk-in toolshed. Justin knew who could help him. Justin, now 21, recently built a third toolshed – on his own – with occasional phone calls to Heinze for assistance.
Heinze has also forged friendships with fellow members of the Golden Pioneers. He serves as president of the organization. Heinze claims his friends railroaded him into the position when he was out of town. However, he doesn’t mind. A group of retired men, the Golden Pioneers meet once a week at the Dawg House. Using their own money, they provide assistance to such causes as Northland Community and Technical College and Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village.
Heinze and other members of the Golden Pioneers also participate in a music ministry in Thief River Falls. Heinze, Ray Hedlund, Orvel Stocks and Scott Walseth perform as the Golden Pioneers Band at nursing homes and assisted living centers in Thief River Falls. The band had six gigs last month.
“No one throws anything at us,” said Heinze, who plays harmonica with the group. He performs with a similar group when he and his wife spend the winter in Arizona.
Heinze enjoys volunteering and he hopes more people will follow in his footsteps. He appreciates the work of organizations like Digi-Key Cares, but he hopes other younger people would be willing to volunteer nowadays. He encourages all ages to volunteer.
Heinze noted that he has met many friends while volunteering. He and his friend Ed Mooney have volunteered together for many organizations over the years. Mooney nominated Heinze for this honor. The two of them have worked together doing repair work at the Food Shelf, the Humane Society and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. They have also worked together on numerous Boy Scout projects.
“Art lost both his arms in an accident as a young man. But that has never been a deterrent, instead he has used his accident as a way to motivate himself,” Mooney wrote in his nomination letter. “What Art has accomplished with two hooks inspires anyone who knows him. Acknowledging Art’s volunteer work will only serve to motivate others to become involved in our community and do the same.”
At the age of 19, Heinze lost both of his arms while sawing firewood on his uncle’s farm. That moment became the catalyst that would alter the course of his life. After completing rehabilitation at the Gillette Hospital in St. Paul, Heinze planned to become an agriculture teacher. After determining that career wasn’t the right fit for him, he realized he wanted to help others in situations like his. He became an occupational therapist.
In 1964, Heinze was recruited to start the Occupational Therapy Department at what was then known as Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls. Over the course of the next 39 years, he oversaw the expansion of OT Departments at what was then known as the Convalescent and Nursing Care Unit as well as the Mental Health Unit. Heinze also helped establish Therapeutic Activity and Recreational Programs at seven area nursing homes. During his career, OT services were contracted to School District 564, and outpatient home health OT services were added. After retirement, he worked as a part-time self-employed rehabilitation consultant focusing on arm amputees and the training of occupational therapists to assist with their needs.
Heinze continues to volunteer his services, helping other amputees and educating others about what it is like to live with a disability. He has spoken to groups ranging from his granddaughter’s kindergarten class to a group of Russians. In 2004, Heinze served as a People to People ambassador delegate to Russia, sharing information about occupational therapy with Russians.
Through all of his volunteer endeavors, Heinze has had the support of his wife, Joan. The two of them have been married for 51 years. They have three sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren.