Edison P. Heintz, a retired Blue Island city clerk, always described himself as a public servant, not a politician. Mr. Heintz, 86, who was born in Blue Island and lived almost his entire life there, died of cancer Friday, June 6, in St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island. “My father believed in contributing to the community,” said his son Peter. “He loved this city and everything about it.” In 1965, Mr. Heintz successfully ran for city treasurer, joining the mayoral slate of his second cousin, Dick Withers. Two years later, Mr. Heintz won the city clerk’s job, holding the position until he retired 15 years later. “Edison was a full-time employee of the people, showing up early every day to make sure things got done,” said Withers, mayor from 1965 to 1977. “He also used to help new city clerks elected in other places. He would go to their towns and help them learn the routine of the job. He was a very dedicated public servant.” Three years after graduating in 1938 from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind, with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Mr. Heintz was drafted into the Army and served in an anti-tank unit at a base in California. In 1943 he was accepted into the Army Air Forces. He flew 50 missions as a B-24 pilot. Mr. Heintz met his future wife, Leota “Lois” Creasser in early 1945 when her hat was blown off her head as she walked down the street; he chased it down for her. The couple married that summer. After being discharged as a captain in 1946, Mr. Heintz went home to Blue Island where he bought his grandfather’s real estate business, which he operated until selling it in 1968. His wife died in 1979. Other survivors include a daughter, Judith Hubner and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14700 S. 94th Ave., Orland Park.
