Adolph Henry Heiner, Jr., 80, of Beaumont died July 21, 2007 at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth. A lifelong resident of Beaumont, he began working for his father in 1943 after his graduation from South Park High School in Beaumont. He began farming with his brother Bill in 1946.
During the hey day of their farming, the Heiner brothers, employed around fifteen full time workers and as many as eighteen during the peak times. The Heiners would totally prepare other people’s land so the land owners could just plant. Adolph said that at the time, they were turning down as much business as they were doing, and that was because of the excellent work they did and were known for.
The partnership farmed rice, ran cattle, and did custom work for farmers in the area until they dissolved in 1970. After they separated the partnership, they each farmed on their own with Bill taking a more active roll in the cattle side of business until his death in 1995. Adolph continued farming until his death, leaving a crop still to be harvested.
Adolph shared his life with his wife of twenty-nine years, Ann Clark Heiner. Ann grew up in the Beaumont area and helped run the farm.
Adolph was a member of the American Rice Growers Association, American Rice Incorporate, Gulf Coast Storage, Farmers Storage, Coastal Cattle Association, Beaumont YMBL and is a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was named Pioneer Farmer of the Year for 2005-2006.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Clark Heiner of Beaumont; son, Fred D. Heiner and his wife Roberta of Beaumont; sister, Mary Heiner Bauer and her husband Robert of Winnie; sister-in-law, Helen Heiner of Beaumont; grandchildren, Andrew, Cory, and Christine Heiner, Brian and Travis Kirk, and Nicole, Kayla, Cordell, and Hunter Thames; step children, Linda Kirk and her husband Bert of Beaumont, Paul Thames, Jr. and his wife Melisa of Sour Lake, and Scott Thames and his wife Laura of Midlothian. He was preceded in death by his parents, A.H. (Ott) Heiner and Lydia Schliesler Heiner; and brother, W. F. (Bill) Heiner.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Doug Rathegeber and Pastor Michael Walther officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel Heiner, W. F. Billy Heiner, Jr., Tim Taylor, Jack Bauer, Anison (Peewee) May, Andrew Heiner, Brian Kirk, and Travis Kirk. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday evening, July 23, 2007 at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 2955 S Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77707 or South Park Baptist Church, 795 Woodrow, Beaumont, Texas 77705.
