Paul Jay Heins Sr.

Paul “Bud” Jay Heins Sr. passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side on July 19, 2024.  Paul was born to the late Paul and Ruth Heins in Syracuse, NY in 1939.  He married the love of his life, Agnes Miller, in 1961, and together they raised their 4 wonderful children in Baldwinsville and Fulton, NY.   

Paul was a loving family man, devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He and his wife found great enjoyment filled with warmth, laughter and love, spending time with family and friends at their beautiful home on Oneida Lake. 

Paul was also very devoted to his faith, attending Mass weekly.  For many years , he was a member of parishes in Syracuse, Oswego, Constantia and lastly, Divine Mercy in Central Square. 

At a young age, Paul developed a very strong work ethic that, through the years, led him to become a highly respected, successful business man.  His first job actually started at age 11, delivering newspapers to families in the Eastwood section of Syracuse where Paul grew up.  While in high school, Paul worked for a small “Mom and Pop” grocery store, stocking shelves and bagging and carrying out groceries for customers. 

When Paul graduated, he took a job with Porter Cable/Rockwell Industries, following in his Dad’s footsteps, but after a short time there, he decided his heart remained with the grocery business, so he went on to work for P&C Grocery Store. 

At this time, Paul was devoted to public service as well. He volunteered as a firefighter for Taunton Fire Department , and also joined the Air National Guard, as a member of the 174th Fighter Squadron, known as “The Boys from Syracuse”. He was sent over to France in 1961, shortly after getting married, but Paul returned home 9 months later, finally able to meet his son, Jack, who was born during his deployment. 

Once home, Paul built a name for himself in P&C Food Markets.  His leadership, business knowledge, and human relations skills quickly pushed Paul into upper management positions, and he spent the next 20 years managing P&C stores around the Syracuse area, turning troubled stores into thriving businesses. 

In the mid 70’s, Paul and Agnes opened two laundromat & dry-cleaning businesses in Oswego.  A couple of years later, Paul’s business dream finally came true when he opened his own grocery store in Oswego - Paul’s Big M, and a few years after that, he opened an ice cream store on the back side of Paul’s, calling it PJ’s.  Today, Paul’s and PJ’s are still successful and are presently owned by Karen Connors, Paul’s daughter. 

Still wanting to serve the community, Paul devoted his time, efforts and support to several local organizations throughout Oswego and Constantia.  Paul was appointed to the Board of Directors for Oswego County Savings, serving as Chairman of the Board for 2 of those years.  He was one of the originators of the Oswego Central City  

Business District, and he also served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, the Board of Directors of the Oswego Chapter for the Red Cross, the Oswego Rotary Club (Member and President), the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, the Oswego County Small Business Committee and Personnel Committee, the Constantia Planning Board, and the Constantia Comprehensive Planning Board. 

Paul and Agnes found great enjoyment spending time with family and friends at their beautiful home on Oneida Lake, especially the many years with their grandchildren, building bonfires, celebrating holidays, teaching them to swim, boat, fish and waterski.   They highly revered their days at Oswego Speedway, hockey games, Big M trips and the many Caribbean family cruise vacations.

Paul is predeceased by his wife, Agnes; brother, Fred; and sisters, RuthAnn, Annie, MaryLou and Therese. 

Paul is survived by his children: Jack (Linda) Heins, Karen Connors, Paul Heins (Jim), and Kim Heins; his grandchildren; Brittany (Randy), Heather (Steven), Daniel, Mike (Kaylee), Dawson and Chase; his great grandchildren Kai, Finnegan, Molly, Emerson and Baby Heins (coming soon); his siblings; Patty, Christa (Jim), Cheryl (John), Johnny (Margaret) and Jim; and several nieces and nephews. 

Paul and his wife have requested no services be held, but a private ceremony will take place with the immediate family later this year in Syracuse and next summer in Scotland.   

Paul will always be our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, great grandpa, brother and friend.  We will honor his memory by living with the same kindness, compassion and resilience he exemplified, to keep his spirit alive and his light always shining bright. He will be deeply missed by all, but never forgotten and always and forever LOVED! 

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