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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the Reverend Walter Philip (Phil) Heinze on Thursday, May 25, 2023, surrounded by his family at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener at the age of 80. Beloved husband of 54 years to Carolin (née Deane). Loving father and grandfather to Matthew (wife Sherri Cobaugh, Alexander and Jacob) of Danville, California, Jeremy (wife Michelle, Joshua and Evan) of Mount Albert, Ontario, and Stephanie (husband Matthew, Lillian and Isaac) Brubacher of Kitchener, Ontario. Brother to Theodore (Ted). Predeceased by his parents Reverend Walter Christian Herman and Lillian Edith Heinze (née Pranschke), his brother James (Jimmy) and sister-in-law Jean. Fondly remembered by Carolin’s siblings – Harl Deane (Ruth, deceased), Henry Deane, Kathy Deane (John Burgard, deceased), Barbara Drezek, and his many nieces and nephews.

Phil was born in Ottawa on November 2, 1942 and grew up in Wellesley, Ontario. He met Carolin in St. Louis, Missouri while attending Concordia Seminary. He was ordained in June of 1968 and Phil and Carolin were married later that year on his birthday. Phil served as pastor in Lutheran congregations throughout Ontario including in Waterloo, Germanicus, Augsburg, Eganville, Niagara Falls, and Newmarket. He also served as chaplain at Rideau Correctional Centre in Burritts Rapids and as Assistant to the Bishop and Director for Public Policy and Service Ministries for the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC.

In addition to his life in the church, Phil was a strong advocate for social justice initiatives. In his free time, he could be found working in his vegetable garden, spending as much time as possible with his grandchildren, and renovating or repairing almost anything around his house, the church, the office, or his children’s homes.

Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Tuesday May 30, 2023 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 23 Church St. New Hamburg, on Wednesday May 31, 2023 beginning at 1 p.m. with Rev. Tanya Varner officiating. A private interment will take place at a later date in Niagara Falls, ON.

The visitation and funeral will be wheelchair accessible. The family requests that you please wear a mask when attending either the visitation or the funeral. The service will be live streamed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Trinity.New.Hamburg

As expressions of sympathy, donations to Canadian Lutheran World Relief, or The Eastern Synod of the ELCIC, or Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hamburg would be appreciated and can be made through www.erbgood.com.