WHEAT RIDGE — In the mid-1960s, German immigrant Heinie Silz packed a truck of sweet corn and drove to Wheat Ridge from Fort Morgan, parked underneath a cottonwood tree and promptly sold out in a few hours.
He began making the trip on a regular basis and slowly saved up enough money to open a year-round market on the far west end of 44th Avenue.
Heinie’s Farmers Market soon became a destination, with customers driving from across the metro area to purchase farm produce hauled in daily by family members.
Silz and his wife, Thea, worked 12, sometimes 14 hours a day alongside family members and became well known not only in Wheat Ridge but across the region, said grandson Kole Silz.
“He was once known as the Produce King,” said daughter-in-law Cheryl Silz. “Every day customers still ask about him…he worked every day he could until just a few years ago. He’d get up at four in the morning and be sitting here waiting for people to start coming in.”
Daniel Silz said his dad valued hard work, church and family and operated a market in some capacity for 65 years.
“He was honest and fair and everyone liked and respected him because of that,” Silz said. “If he saw someone working hard, he’d give them the shirt off his back. If you weren’t working hard, he’d want nothing to do with you.”
Heinie Silz, 90, died Wednesday morning due to health problems associated with old age. Wednesday afternoon a steady stream of customers, many who had yet to receive the news, asked how “Grandpa” Heinie was doing.
“They were a family-owned market that has been here for as long as I can remember,” said one customer, Jackie, who declined to give her last name. “There was always Heinie’s kids and grandkids working in the store, and we just felt at home here.”
Visitation is Sunday, Sept. 20 from 2 until 4 pm at the Heer Mortuary in Fort Morgan. Services are planned Monday, Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church at 1215 W. 7th Ave. in Fort Morgan.
His said Heinz Nicholas Silz was born in 1925 in Kahlow, Germany.
He is survived by his wife, Thea Mae of Fort Morgan; daughters Sheila Monroe (Larry) of Texas, and Janet Montel (Jeff) of Divide; sons Heinz Silz (Cheryl) of Golden, Martin Silz (Becky), of Fort Morgan, and Daniel Silz of Golden.
He had 25 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his son, Nicholas Silz, and sisters and parents.
Family members said the market will be closed Monday but the business will continue to operate.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
