Hans Hinrich Pein

 Hans Hinrich Pein passed away at the age of 83 in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2025 at Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy. Burial will held at 1:00 p.m. Monday with military honors at the Danville National Cemetery, Danville, IL.

Hans was born on November 9, 1941 to Minna and Hans Emil Pein in Pinneberg, Germany. He married Linda Blobaum in 1969; they divorced in 1992. He is survived by his sister Linda Sagemann of Hamburg Germany, daughters Gretchen Pein (Michael Faullin) and Christina Pein, grandchildren Roxy Todd of Champaign, Maxwell Baloun of Birmingham Alabama, Lily Skiles of Tuscaloosa Alabama, Trenton Faullin and Trey Faullin (Karisma Saymiknha), all of Champaign. He was preceded in death by sisters Annelies and Leni and grandson Trevor Faullin.

After studying animal husbandry in Germany, he traveled to the United States to work on his Uncle Rudolph’s dairy farm in Poughkeepsie, New York. He learned English by reading the daily newspaper and carried a German-English dictionary in his pocket at all times. Hans played soccer with Blau-Weiss Gottschee, a semi-pro New York team in the American Soccer League in the 1960s. He was drafted into the US Army while awaiting his green card and completed boot camp at Fort Dix, subsequently earning the M60 Expert Badge, the M14 Expert Badge, and the M14 Sharpshooter Badge. His service as part of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was wounded in combat and experienced significant exposure to Agent Orange during his time in southeast Asia. Following his recovery, he became a Naturalized American Citizen. His identity as a soldier was salient throughout his adult life, and he tried to help as many veterans as he could. In his later years he was a fixture at the Danville VA Medical Center.

Following his military service, Hans returned to the states and settled in West Chicago Illinois, where he completed a degree from DuPage Horticulture School and met his future wife, Linda Blobaum. Upon graduation, he returned to upstate New York to work in a greenhouse. Hans was fiercely independent and was meant to be his own boss - one of his signature phrases was “there’s the right way, the wrong way, and my way” - so in 1972 he and Linda, their infant daughter and their Yorkshire Terriers moved to rural St Joseph, Illinois. It was there that Stanton Greenhouses was established.

Stanton Greenhouses employed many throughout thirty years: recent immigrants, locals throughout central Illinois, college and high school students, and anyone who couldn’t otherwise catch a break in life. If you were ready to work, Hans would give you work. He also provided extended learning opportunities for numerous DuPage Horticulture School and University of Illinois student interns. He graciously donated plants to various community organizations, nursing homes, and schools. He worked closely with the University of Illinois Horticulture Club for 20 years, providing space for plant production and hands-on instruction to club members. The 2001 Hort Club Mom’s Day Flower Show was dedicated to him. He also helped establish the Urbana Farmer’s Market, and Stanton Greenhouses was a consistent vendor for many years.

In his retirement, Hans spent many hours managing the athletic fields and grounds at the High School of St Thomas More and received a volunteer award for his efforts. He briefly worked in the Lowe’s garden center in Champaign. For many years, he provided landscaping consultations freely to friends and acquaintances and patiently answered many houseplant care questions.

Hans was an avid fisherman and traveled to his “second home” in Manitoba, Canada at least once each summer and made many lifetime friends there. He loved to bring relatives or central Illinois friends along for the experience and always returned to Illinois with loads of Northern Pike and Walleye. He was also an excellent bowler. He competed in the American Bowling Congress Championships in 1974, was awarded an American Bowling Congress 300 Game Watch, and was inducted to the Champaign County Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 2001. Golfing was another passion; Hans was a long-time member of the Urbana Country Club and spent many, many hours socializing and perfecting his skills on the golf course.

Hans did not know a stranger, and he leaves many friends and even more memories. Whether he was bartending Zsa Zsa Gabor’s parties in the Catskills, meeting new people on European cruises, attending Stammtisch at Rigg’s Brewery or driving his golf cart through the neighborhood, he had advice and a story for everyone.

Memorials may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice. Consider some of Hans’ favorites: Disabled American Veterans, Stop Soldier Suicide, Make-a-Wish Illinois, or any animal rescue organization.

Condolences may be offered at www.morganmemorialhome.com.

NG 3/26/2025