Heinz Wypich

July 29, 1936 — October 25, 2024

Heinz Wypich

Service Details

Heinz Wypich was born on July 29th, 1936 to parents Franz and Selma Wypich. His birth place was Klausberg Germany, which later became part of Poland. When Heinz was three, his family moved to Sontra, where Heinz spent his days attending school and playing soccer. His father died when Heinz was eight years old, during the height of WWII. Times were difficult but the family persevered. Heinz apprenticed at a bakery for three years, then switched to toolmaking. He played soccer for the local team that represented Sontra.

In 1956, Heinz followed his older sister, who married an American GI, and came to the United States, landing in Des Moines, IA where he got his first job at the Colonial Bakery. He met Carol Herron at Avon Lake and they married in 1958. Heinz became a US citizen in 1963, the day his son started kindergarten.
Heinz then worked for his brother-in-law as a cabinet-maker for five years, and switched jobs to repair vending machines for Automatique, where he remained until he retired.

Heinz LOVED soccer. He and a few of his friends started the Des Moines Soccer Club in the early 1960’s and continued to play, traveling all around the Midwest, until the mid 1980’s. He, and his teammates were instrumental in getting the game of soccer started in the Des Moines area schools.

He also enjoyed watching hockey, and was a season-ticket-holder for the Des Moines Buccaneers for many decades. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, traveling with his wife to Arizona every year for spring training. His “hobbies” were working in his yard and around the house. He was a Mr. Fix-it and could fix anything presented to him.

Heinz and Carol had three children, Jeff Wypich, Lora (Mark) Kander, and Carla (Bryan) Moon, and eventually became the grandparents to four beautiful girls, Kelsey, (James) Ellender, Lindsey Kander, Katie (Tucker) Brady, and Samantha Moon. He even got to meet his great-granddaughter, Avery Ellender.

Heinz was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sister Trudy, and his son Jeff. He is survived by his daughters and their families, as well as nephews Terry and Rusty Stiles, and their families.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 3rd from 2:00-4:00pm at Hamiltons near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines.

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