John Allen Hinz of Hermiston passed unexpectedly on Jan. 5, 2021 at the age of 50. With a final joke for the doctors, he was led Home.
He was born on Sept. 26, 1970 to Walter Vernon and Sharen Peine Hinz at Holy Rosary Hospital in Ontario.
He spent most of his childhood in Irrigon, where he graduated in 1988 from Riverside High School. After graduating high school John stayed local, working with his best friend, Simplot, and Chris Inc. at the Port of Umatilla. The last 16 years he worked as a crane operator/tankerman at Tidewater and loved working for the company. At work, he enjoyed playing pranks on his co-workers. (Hopefully, popsicle delivery will be carried on by another big-hearted delivery driver.)
In 2006, John chose and married his wife Gina and began his own family. His children, Callie, Chase and Kira, were shown love from his incredible heart. He loved his shadows. Calm and ready to share his life experiences, he was always the dad; he did not have to be. He did not know being a dad was going to make him not just a better man, but an amazing one. He added to his pack of children he loved and called his own, one at a time: Mason, Jarin, Laney, Natalie, Allana and Allison. Best bonus dad a child could ask for.
John was one of a kind with a brilliant, warm smile and kind, loving heart. He loved boating, snowmobiling, motorcycle rides, feet in the sand, the sun, good music, hanging with friends and family, sharing that infectious smile, and draining a tall cold one. He joked/bragged about being everyone’s favorite.
He leaves behind his wife, Gina; children, Callie and (Kenny) Bradshaw, Chase, and Kira; parents, Walt (Nancy) Hinz and Sharen Peine Hinz; his siblings, Stacey Hinz, Richard (Gina) Hinz, Teresa (Al) Hannon, and Teena (Mark) Griffin, who he could never get enough time with. Laughter, fun, and great times were always part of their adventures. John’s nieces and nephews were a source of love and pride for him: Richard, Ryan, Caitlyn, Travis, Garret, Chianne and Cierra. Tori, who called him Uncle Daddy (he was humbled by this endearment). He loved his great nieces and nephews. His love lives on in every heart and picture with them. His second family, the Coffmans, along with large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Mark J. Hinz; niece, Chianne Gaede; and both sets of grandparents, Otto and Connie Hinz, and John and Dorothy Peine.
John’s sister will host a graveside service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the Echo Memorial Cemetery. A celebration of life gathering with refreshments will follow at his mother’s home in Irrigon.
Gina, Callie, Kenny, Chase and Kira will host a memorial in June when the weather warms. We will be in touch with family and friends regarding arrangements.
No contributions – please do a kind deed, or give someone a smile; you never know who needs it.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
