MONROE - For Del Heins, life is about day-to-day happiness. He spends his time doing things he loves with the people he enjoys.

Just a glimpse at his most recent CD cover tells a story of his life - a smiling Heins sitting on his Harley holding his Baldoni accordion.

Heins was born in Lafayette County in 1937. He attended country school in Calamine with about 20 others until he graduated from eighth grade. He attended Belmont High School where he enjoyed playing basketball and baseball. It was where he met his wife, Joanne. The couple married in 1957 and have two daughters.

Heins was raised on a dairy farm. The family milked about 20 cows and had about 100 acres of land.

Heins said his father played the violin but stopped before he was ever able to hear him play. Two of his brothers played violin and guitar for house parties, and when Heins got his accordion, he played with them. The children were all musical and some of Heins' fondest memories are getting together on Sunday afternoons to learn new songs and play.

In grade school, Heins remembers his cousin's eight-bass accordion. He'd play the right hand and she'd play the left for fun and family gatherings. Eventually, she sold it to him; it's a cherished piece he still keeps today. It was the instrument he played all through grade school.

One day in 1946, his mother told him she had a surprise for him and presented him a 120-bass accordion.

Heins never took any music lessons. He would listen to songs a few times and pick them up, as he still does today. His daughters laugh when they tell people that their father can't remember something you told him a few minutes ago, but if you mention a song he hasn't played in 50 years, he can grab his accordion and play it immediately.

"I think it's a God-given talent," Heins said.

It wasn't long before he and two of his brothers, Guerdon and Frank, formed a polka band and played around the Monroe area. They called themselves The Heins Brothers, and played together for about 25 years. His nephew Maynard eventually joined the band as well.

Eventually, the band stopped playing after his brothers got older. But Heins never stopped playing and kept upgrading accordions.

One night, the band played a gig at the Red Barn in Evansville. Someone was playing a Cordovox, and when Heins gave it a try, he fell in love. He bought one and played it for a decade before purchasing a newer model.

Today, Heins enjoys playing his Baldoni, an accordion he's had since 2006. Heins even tells his cardiologist that if he's having a bad day, he walks in the door and goes straight to the accordion. It's a great release and stress reliever for him.

"I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in China," he said. "I love it."

When his brother was in the Lafayette County Manor, Heins took in his accordion one day and asked the nurse if he could play for him. Once he finished, the nurse returned, asking him if he would play on the second floor as well. So many enjoyed the music that Heins has made it his mission to spread musical cheer at five area nursing homes monthly - and more as needed in the area.

The first time Heins played at Pleasant View in Monroe, a husband and wife sat and watched. It wasn't long before she had tears and he was tapping his feet. It was the first movement he'd had in a long time and Heins felt the emotion tug at his heartstrings.

"It's so rewarding to play at the manors," he said. "I play all the old songs they used to hear. It makes my day when they tell me they love it."

He still also performs at Squeezebox night at Turner Hall, Cheese Days, the Belmont Fair and big events in Platteville.

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After his high school graduation, Heins moved to Monroe and began working at Center Market just off of the Square. The man in the meat department had just quit and the head meat-cutter asked if Heins wanted to learn the job. He spent a few years working at different grocery stores around Monroe and one on Monona Drive.

He enjoyed his time working on the Square. One of the highlights while working there was when a customer brought in Frankie Yankovic, "America's Polka King," someone Heins still admires today.

When Heins received a call from Brodhead asking if he would take on the job of managing the Brodhead Market, he knew it would be perfect for him. He said he enjoyed working at Stairs IGA for almost 10 years.

One day, Heins received a call from Butch Strickler letting him know they were opening a new store on the west side of the Square. Heins accepted a job and eventually bought Strickler's Market, a meat and grocery store. Soon, Bob's Uptown Market became available and they purchased that as well. At that time, Heins said, bigger grocery stores were coming in but they were closed on Sundays, so that was a great business day for them. Eventually, however, the bigger stores opened on Sundays too and Heins sold the business.

In 1980, Heins began a new career selling insurance, a job he held for almost 10 years. In 1993, he began working at Swiss Colony in the bakery as a third-shift production worker.

"I loved it," he said. He enjoyed seeing how the bakers put things together, and the machines were interesting to him. He retired from there in 2002.

In 1965, while Heins was working at the grocery store on the Square, Strickler was having a brat stand and asked him to play on the street. Martha Bernet walked by and yelled "You're on the Cheese Days committee" and Heins has been on the board since.

In 1976 he served as co-chairman. He has many fond memories of the festival: He recalls traveling around the countryside, playing the accordion and selling Cheese Days items at local taverns.

When organizers came up with the 100 accordions event for last year's Cheese Days celebration, Heins admits he wasn't convinced that there were that many accordions in Wisconsin. But as he stood alongside 139 fellow players that day, he announced "you've got them out of the closet - now keep 'em out."

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When Heins met his wife Joanne, her brothers had Harley-Davidson motorcycles and they would ride together. But after he got married, he said he never gave riding another thought. One day last year, Heins looked around at the Harley shop, knowing he couldn't afford one.

"I was just drooling," he said with a smile. But when he got home, he told his daughter about being there, and she happened to know of one for sale, so they ventured out to see it.

Soon, the 77-year-old was riding his own motorcycle. He hadn't ridden since 1955 but went through the safety courses.

He loves being back on the open road.

"I'd go every day if I could," he said. "Sometimes the pop just tastes better in South Wayne."