Joseph E. Heinle, 80, of Natrona Heights died Monday after a long illness at his home with his loving family at his bedside.

Born March 4, 1927, in Natrona, he was the son of Charles and Florence Welsh Heinle.

He was a 1945 graduate of St. Joseph High School and attended St. Vincent College in 1947.

Mr. Heinle, a World War II Navy veteran, served from 1945 to 1946.

He worked at Allegheny Ludlum Steel for 44 years as a scheduling supervisor and retired in 1992.

He was a member of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Parish and the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Natrona Heights, where he was a Eucharistic minister, lector and canter. He was elected by parishioners to the church council, was vice-president of council, chairman of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and chairman of the Liturgy Committee.

He and his wife were active in the Christian Family Movement (CSM). He sang solo at St. Joseph Church at the age of 7; and in his later years, he was a member of the choir at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church.

He was a member and past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 2602 in Natrona and a member of the American Legion Post 48 in Natrona.

He loved sports including watching the Steelers and playing golf, tennis and basketball, and his nickname "Buckets" reflected his skill. He especially loved his grandchildren.

He is survived by 11 children, Diana (Dennis) Kearney, Joseph "Jet" Heinle, Rosanne (Michael) Naviglia, Brian (Cindy) Heinle, Louis and Mark Heinle, Dennis (Mary Kay) Heinle, Scott Heinle, Paul (Adrienne) Heinle, Robert (Rebecca) Heinle and Mary (Joseph) Kuniak; and 32 grandchildren, Julia, Joseph, Anna, Mary and Peter Kearney, Nicholas, Dean, Terra, Carrie, Christopher, Angela and Gina Naviglia, Drew, Brian and Mallory Heinle, Chelsea and Brooke Graham, Bradley, Sean, Justin, Erik and Makayla Heinle, Shane, Meghan, Samantha and Delaney Heinle, Mekenzie and Madalyn, Nathan and Evan Heinle and Katelyn and Zachary Kuniak.

Also surviving are sisters, Florence Fazekas, Mildred Skross and Eleanor (Robert) Ganter; a brother, Ray (Joanne) Heinle, and brother-in-law, Richard Celecki.

His dear wife, Madalyn Friel Heinle, died July 22, 2006. He also was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tatum Heinle; a sister, Jane Celecki, and brothers, Charles and William Heinle.

<B>HEINLE </B>— Friends of Joseph E. Heinle, who died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the <B>CICHOLSKI-ZIDEK FUNERAL HOME</B>, 1522 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights. A blessing service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10 a.m. Friday at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church with the Rev. Richard Tusky as celebrant. Burial, with full military honors accorded by the Natrona American Legion, will be held at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Frazer Township, Allegheny County.The Knights of Columbus will hold memorial services at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.Information also is available at www.cicholski-zidekfh.com.