Kenneth Douglas Heinbaugh of Ely, Nevada, passed away on August 7, 2024 in Reno, Nevada.
Kenny was born on December 9, 1937, to Richard and Edith Heinbaugh (nee Pritchett) in Ely. The oldest of four, Kenny was a proud big brother to his sisters Dee, Marcia and Jody.
After graduation from White Pine High School, Kenny earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Colorado, Boulder. He started his professional life in banking in Reno, but soon moved his young family to Ely to assume the family business, Hyland Motor Chevrolet. He owned and operated Hyland Motor for many years before retirement. For Kenny, though, retirement didn’t stick and he went on to develop Hyland into the Prospector Hotel and Casino. He also opened the Country Companies Insurance office in Ely and sold real estate in the White Pine area.
Kenny valued his community and served as a county commissioner as well as being a long-time member of the Ely Rotary Club. He enjoyed playing saxophone and guitar and could often be seen with his band at events around town.
Kenny was an excellent tennis player and skier. He would travel to any ski slope he could find and he taught all of his kids to ski when they were just toddlers. He enjoyed travel and as an avid private pilot, even flew his family on an extended cross-country trip, all the way to Washington, DC, in their Comanche 400.
Kenny was happiest when riding his horse, Angel, in the mountains of the Schell Creek Range. His love of the outdoors often took him to his favorite hunting space at Deer Lodge in Berry Creek. He was a Pony Express Re-rider, helping to carry the mail across the White Pine County backcountry. Kenny was also a member of the Ghost Riders’ “Guns for Hire” where he was known as “Snakebite” and may have robbed a train or two. His annual Pine Nut Hunt with friends and family was a highlight of his life.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Edie; brothers-in-law, Bob Gardner, Dick Horton and Joe Fagan and two nephews, Kent and Brett Gardner.
Kenny is survived by his sisters, Dee (Jack) Christiansen, Marcia Fagan and Jody Horton; brother-in-law and life-long friend, Jack Christiansen; children, Eric (Kathy) Heinbaugh, Holly (Joe) Omar and Christian (Malaika) Heinbaugh; grandsons, Aaron (Sidney) Heinbaugh, Michael (Rachal) Heinbaugh and Seth Heinbaugh; two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kenny will be missed and a celebration of his life will be held in Ely at a later date.