Chris Heidelbach

July 10, 1967 - July 18, 2021

Chris (Walter Christian) Heidelbach passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Ballico, CA. Chris was only 54 years old and had been struggling with an aortic aneurysm for far longer than anyone thought he could. But, that was Chris. He defied just about everything. Chris was born in Stockton, CA on July 10, 1967, to Joy Jones and Richard Heidelbach. He spent the majority of his life in Tracy, CA, had previously lived in Stockton and Lodi, and had been living near family in Ballico, CA for the past several years. He went to Tracy Schools, and was in the Tracy High School Class of 1985. He attended Delta College and had been a cabinet maker, a mortgage banker and a bike shop owner, but was most importantly a musician. Many will remember Chris as a very talented guitar player for several local San Joaquin County bands in the 1980’s and 1990’s. From an early age, he gravitated to music, playing the acoustic and electric guitars. He made his own drum kits, entertained people, cracked jokes, took things part and put them back together, and shared random knowledge that kept everyone in stitches. He save just about every concert ticket stub from the concerts he attended and by a simple count, he saw Iron Maiden the most, but appreciated all kinds of talented musicians. Chris was fearless, and was 6’5” tall, and was an imposing figure, but a complete and total sucker for cats, ice cream, and anything on the History Channel. Chris is survived by his mother, Joy Jones; his sister, Carin Heidelbach; his brother, Richard (Rick) Heidelbach; three nieces, three nephews, cousins, and many good friend that he considered family. He is dearly missed by his cat, Catmonster. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Heidelbach of Stockton; his uncle, Robert (Bob) Heidelbach of Stockton; his grandmother, Evelyn Heidelbach of Tracy; and grandmother, Barbara Cavaiani of Ballico. Chris will be laid to rest in a private, family gathering on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Turlock Memorial Park, 575 N. Soderquist Rd., Turlock. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in memoriam, to UCSF Cardiology: https://ucsfhealthcardiology.edu/giving/support.