Charles Albert Heinrich “Opa” was born on Oct. 5, 1928 to Charles Albert and Ernestine Popp Heinrich in High Hill, and he danced his way into heaven to the tune of a polka on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. He was one of five children born into a German-speaking family with musical abilities. While a boy, he was known as a fast kid and a prankster.
Eighth grade was his last year of formal education and by the time he was 16, with his older brothers off to World War II, it was decided that he and Grandma would move to Houston where they both got jobs to sustain each other. He still made time for drinking, dancing, playing pool and other shenanigans. In April 1952, he married Angeline Bolcerek at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Bellville. Afterward, he served in the Korean War for two years. In 1956, the first of six children started rolling in. In 1973, he and Roy Tabor started their own company, T&H Grinding. Opa still went to work up until the last few months of his life. Opa, with some friends, started their own country/western band called The Good Timers. They played for many weddings, anniversaries, parties and at St. Rose of Lima functions.
Opa loved five things: No. 1 was his church. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima for 71 years where he sang in the choir for many years just like his dad who sang in the choir at St. Mary’s in High Hill. He also belonged to the St. Rose Men’s Club and his second home for many years was Knights of Columbus Council 2917. No. 2 was his family. He loved to take his whole family on cruises and to New Braunfels. New Braunfels was a domino bunch reunion and he always looked forward to putt-putt golf, card games and intermingling with all who came in the past 52 years! No. 3 was his job. In the last days of his life, he still thought he was at the shop and would be barking orders. No. 4 was music and dancing. He was a smooth dancer and never without a partner. He enjoyed watching Mollie B and Hee Haw. No. 5 was gambling at casinos and playing cards and dominoes. He was not above cheating every now and then.
Survivors include his wife, Angeline; and six children and their spouses, Charlene and Vincent Yezak, Dennis and Lynda Heinrich, Elaine and Dennis Simmons, Ronald and Irma Heinrich, Susan and Robert Heise, and Lori and Charlie Banuelos. His 16 grandchildren include Melissa, Rebekah, Bret, Brittany, Brian, Bethany, Leslie, Garrett, Rachel, Kyle, Clayton, Baron, Morgan, Alexia, Jessica and Jacob. There are also 32 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles and Ernestine Heinrich; brothers, Edgar, Edwin and Clerus; his sister, Anita; and great-grandson, Dayton Helms.
Viewing will be on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 at 7 p.m., followed by rosary at 7:30 p.m., at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman St., Houston. Funeral Mass will be on Friday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman St., Houston. Meal will follow Mass, 3 p.m., Forest Park Lawndale, Houston.
He was a thankful, happy and blessed man!