(11-30-20) Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey and the staff of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office send out our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Retired Captain Mark Heinl, who passed away this past weekend.

He began working for our office in 1995 and retired in December of 2016. He dedicated his entire career to the preservation of life and upholding the laws of this great nation. Besides holding many ranks throughout law enforcement, he was a volunteer firefighter and EMS.

To allow time for our staff to mourn the loss of a dear friend, our Civil Division will be closed Friday, December 4, 2020 until 1pm. Thank you for your understanding.

OBITUARY

Mark U. Heinl, age 60, of Coldwater, died on Saturday afternoon, November 28, 2020. He was born May 26, 1960 in Coldwater to the late Charles and Rita (Menker) Heinl. He married the love of his life Sandra (Barna) on May 25, 1984. He and Sandra had four children, Ashlee (Matthew) Botkin of Coldwater, Mark (Donita) Heinl II of Dublin, Cassandra (Tyler) Helentjaris of Coldwater and Spencer (Rachel) Heinl of Coldwater; nine grandchildren, Izaak, Kynlee, Cayn Botkin, Jonah, Alina Heinl, Vivian, Lia, Logan and one on the way Helentjaris and Jace Heinl.

Mark was born and raised in Maria Stein with most of his early years in the Heinl grocery store. After graduating from Marion Local High School, he became and explorer with the Mercer County Sheriffs Department and obtained his OPOTA certification. After a few years with the Minster Police Department, Mark and Sandy settled in Coldwater in 1989 with their 4 children. Mark became a Coldwater patrolman and began volunteering on the Coldwater Fire Department. Through the years, Mark spent his spare time doing mason work on the side and with Baumer Construction. Eventually Mark’s career brought him back to the Mercer County Sheriffs Office. He eventually retired as a captain in 2016. He received the Buckeye Sheriff Association Medal of Honor and the Celina Mercer County Chamber Outstanding Achievement award in 1998 for saving a person’s life.

Mark spent much of his time volunteering with his children’s sporting events. Mark also volunteered with MCERV, Coldwater EMS, Coldwater Fire Department, Past President of the Knights of St. Johns, Past President of the Maria Stein Country Fest Committee, Leader of Mercer County Sheriffs Office Explorers, and a governor for the USS Gambier Bay Committee.

Since his 2016 “retirement” Mark worked as a patrolman for St. Henry Police Department, and a deputy for the Darke County Sheriffs Office. He drove school bus for Coldwater, Marion Local, and St. Henry Schools because of his knowledge of all of the Mercer County roads.

Mark is survived by his big brother, John, who he spent half of his life attempting to drive crazy but always looked up to. John and Sheila Heinl survive in New Carlisle, Ohio.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater. Fraternal Order of Eagles, Coldwater and Fraternal Order of Police Grand Lake Lodge.

A Public Mass of Christian Burial following all CDC guidelines will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday December 4, 2020 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater with livestream at https://www.coldwatercluster.org/information/watch-mass-online. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater. Friends may call from 4 to 7 pm Thursday and 9 to 10 am Friday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater. Memorials may be made to the Mark Heinl Law Enforcement Scholarship fund. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.

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