John Hein

Sun Prairie - John Edward Hein, age 94 passed away at Agrace Hospice on Friday, June 9, 2017. He was born in Madison on July 15, 1922, the son of Frank and Martha Hein.

John graduated from Sun Prairie High School as class salutatorian. Throughout high school, he was the class president his freshman, sophomore and senior year. He attended UW-Madison studying mechanical engineering. John enlisted in the United States Navy on November 11, 1942 and graduated on October 14, 1944. On October 18, 1943, John was united in marriage to Audrey Hillenbrand. Together they lived in Corpus Christie, TX and Atlanta, GA where John was assigned to instructor duty, instructing cadets in basic and advanced flight training and senior officers in instrument training. Following training, he was stationed in the Pacific Theatre. On December 31, 1945, he returned on the Saratoga aircraft carrier.

Together Audrey and John owned and operated Hillenbrand's Men's Clothing and Family Shoe Store. Over the years, John was a past president of the Lion's Club, member of the American Legion for 72 years, former member of the VFW, was on the Police and Fire Commission, held the position of Board of Director for Bank of Sun Prairie for 43 years and President of Merchant's Association in the Sun Prairie Shopping Center. John enjoyed spending time at the cottage on Lake Wisconsin and spending the winter months at their home in Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona. During his spare time, he could be found playing bridge, eating out, going to dinner dances and traveling the United States, Europe, North Africa and Asia and keeping up with current events.

John is survived by his two daughters; Wendy (Tom) Ostlund of Onalaska, WI and Jody (Tim Jensen) Ekern of Waterloo, WI, his son Robert Hein of Madison, two grandsons; John (Kate) Ostlund of Hopkins, MN and Mike (Erin) Ostlund of St. Louis Park, MN, five great- grandchildren; Henry, Julia and Finn Ostlund and Nora and Ellie Ostlund.

Funeral services will be held at CRESS FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICE, 1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 11:00 am with Monsignor Terrance Connors officiating. A visitation will be held at funeral home on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 10:00 am until the time of services.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of John to Freedom Honor Flight Inc, P.O. Box 505, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54602-0505.

The family would like to thank the Heart and Vascular Unit at Unity Point Health - Meriter and Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg for their outstanding care and support to John and his family.


Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie
608-837-9054