One wonderful guy. To know him was to love him, calm, kind, considerate with a great sense of humor and a quick wit. Carrol loved to travel and was an avid football fan. He was the beloved husband of 54 years to Joan Andrews Heidt. The adored father of Laurel Heidt Pacios-Rivera and Kelli Heidt Hoefs and grandfather of Michael and Matthew. Carrol was the youngest and only son of Lester Heidt (1895-1969), and Edna Heidt Blakemore(1896-1989). He was named Carrol Lester, his father was Lester Carrol. He had two older sisters Marian Heidt Seymour (1915-2001) and Pauline Heidt Burke (1922-2003), another sister Florence died prior to Carrol's birth in 1921. In 1937, his parents divorced, forcing Carrol to grow up in a house of women. Carrol was forever a ladies man, for he was always surrounded by them. His father was his only male role model, his departure meant Carrol had no male figure to turn to. Even his two grandfathers George Heidt and August Hamlow died years before his birth. It was mainly Carrol, Edna, Marian, and Pauline living under one roof. Carrol sacrificed a lot in order to make his older sisters happy. Marian and Pauline were more demanding and Carrol was very easy going. He was very much like his mother. Carrol was the apple of Edna's eye. The closest thing he had to a brother was his cousin Wilkins Hamlow(1924-1945). Wilkins and Carrol got into a lot of mischief together. On one instance the two were playing around with blasting caps, and Carrol ended up losing an eye. Carrol graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was a football and track star, and a natural athlete. He entered the army in World War II and served in France. He frequently wrote home, in one note to his sister Marian, his sense of humor was prevelant even in a time of war when he let her know what he thought when she asked if she could smoke his pipe since cigarettes were rationed, Carrol wrote: "Yes Marian you can smoke my pipe; I hope it makes you sick. I cannot stand to see a woman smoke a pipe." During the war he lost his cousin Wilkins when he was killed in Okinawa on April 11, 1945. Carrol's rank was Sergeant and he was set to attend officer's school when a doctor noticed his bad eye. Carrol instead attended college in Sacramento, California and became a mechanical engineer; he worked many years as a mechanical designer draftsman and checked numerous plans for the government. Carrol was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. He also owned and operated a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. On Valentine's Day 1954 he married Joan Andrews, just months into their marriage Carrol suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He liked to tell the story that he was paralyzed from the left side of his nose to the left side of his penis. He recovered and the couple went on to have two girls Laurel and Kelli. Kelli married William Hoefs and they had two sons. Carrol and Joan lived many years in Campbell, California. In the 1980s they sold their home and moved back to Turlock closer to Carrol's mother Edna. Edna passed away at age 93 in 1989. Following the death of his brother-in-law Harold in 1997 he became increasingly closer to his sister Marian, who always looked after her little brother, he loved Pauline too, but she drove him crazy, he always said "I Love Pauline but she talks too damn much." Carrol began to have problems with dementia, Pauline did as well. Marian was the only sibling to escape this. Marian, however, became ill and died in a three day time period in August 2001. Carrol was there at the hospital every day holding her hand and sitting with her for hours. He was in the room with her and her two boys when she died on August 16, 2001. Pauline followed a year and a half later on January 5, 2003. Carrol's mental state deteriorated. He was still able to get around, but by in 2007 a growing heart condition slowed him down. His conditioned worsened and he eventually passed away on June 11, 2008. I am sure at heavens gate he was greeted by the women in his life, Edna, Marian, and Pauline. I hope they can stop fussing over him long enough to let this wonderful man rest in peace.
Obituary published in the Modesto Bee June 18, 2008:
CARROL LESTER HEIDT APRIL 30, 1924 - JUNE 11, 2008 Carrol Heidt, age 84, passed away at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA. Carrol was born in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was active in football and track. He went to college in Sacramento, CA. Carrol was a World War II Army veteran in the European Campaign. Carrol was a mechanical designer in the Bay Area for many years. He was an owner/operator of a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. He was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. In later years, Carrol and Joan traveled and enjoyed watching football games. Carrol will be remembered for his jovial, but gentle nature. Carrol and Joan (Andrews) were married for 54 years, on Valentine's Day, 1954. Carrol is survived by his beloved wife, Joan and cherished daughters, Laurel Pacios-Rivera (husband, Nato) and Kelli Hoefs (husband, Bill); and grandsons, Michael Hoefs and Matthew Hoefs. Carrol was preceded in death by his sisters, Marian Seymour and Pauline Burke. Carrol was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of SIRS. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at The First United Methodist Church on Arbor Way, Turlock, CA. Private inturnment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, Hughson or The First United Methodist Church, Turlock, CA.
Obituary published in the Modesto Bee June 18, 2008:
CARROL LESTER HEIDT APRIL 30, 1924 - JUNE 11, 2008 Carrol Heidt, age 84, passed away at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA. Carrol was born in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was active in football and track. He went to college in Sacramento, CA. Carrol was a World War II Army veteran in the European Campaign. Carrol was a mechanical designer in the Bay Area for many years. He was an owner/operator of a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. He was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. In later years, Carrol and Joan traveled and enjoyed watching football games. Carrol will be remembered for his jovial, but gentle nature. Carrol and Joan (Andrews) were married for 54 years, on Valentine's Day, 1954. Carrol is survived by his beloved wife, Joan and cherished daughters, Laurel Pacios-Rivera (husband, Nato) and Kelli Hoefs (husband, Bill); and grandsons, Michael Hoefs and Matthew Hoefs. Carrol was preceded in death by his sisters, Marian Seymour and Pauline Burke. Carrol was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of SIRS. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at The First United Methodist Church on Arbor Way, Turlock, CA. Private inturnment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, Hughson or The First United Methodist Church, Turlock, CA.
One wonderful guy. To know him was to love him, calm, kind, considerate with a great sense of humor and a quick wit. Carrol loved to travel and was an avid football fan. He was the beloved husband of 54 years to Joan Andrews Heidt. The adored father of Laurel Heidt Pacios-Rivera and Kelli Heidt Hoefs and grandfather of Michael and Matthew. Carrol was the youngest and only son of Lester Heidt (1895-1969), and Edna Heidt Blakemore(1896-1989). He was named Carrol Lester, his father was Lester Carrol. He had two older sisters Marian Heidt Seymour (1915-2001) and Pauline Heidt Burke (1922-2003), another sister Florence died prior to Carrol's birth in 1921. In 1937, his parents divorced, forcing Carrol to grow up in a house of women. Carrol was forever a ladies man, for he was always surrounded by them. His father was his only male role model, his departure meant Carrol had no male figure to turn to. Even his two grandfathers George Heidt and August Hamlow died years before his birth. It was mainly Carrol, Edna, Marian, and Pauline living under one roof. Carrol sacrificed a lot in order to make his older sisters happy. Marian and Pauline were more demanding and Carrol was very easy going. He was very much like his mother. Carrol was the apple of Edna's eye. The closest thing he had to a brother was his cousin Wilkins Hamlow(1924-1945). Wilkins and Carrol got into a lot of mischief together. On one instance the two were playing around with blasting caps, and Carrol ended up losing an eye. Carrol graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was a football and track star, and a natural athlete. He entered the army in World War II and served in France. He frequently wrote home, in one note to his sister Marian, his sense of humor was prevelant even in a time of war when he let her know what he thought when she asked if she could smoke his pipe since cigarettes were rationed, Carrol wrote: "Yes Marian you can smoke my pipe; I hope it makes you sick. I cannot stand to see a woman smoke a pipe." During the war he lost his cousin Wilkins when he was killed in Okinawa on April 11, 1945. Carrol's rank was Sergeant and he was set to attend officer's school when a doctor noticed his bad eye. Carrol instead attended college in Sacramento, California and became a mechanical engineer; he worked many years as a mechanical designer draftsman and checked numerous plans for the government. Carrol was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. He also owned and operated a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. On Valentine's Day 1954 he married Joan Andrews, just months into their marriage Carrol suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He liked to tell the story that he was paralyzed from the left side of his nose to the left side of his penis. He recovered and the couple went on to have two girls Laurel and Kelli. Kelli married William Hoefs and they had two sons. Carrol and Joan lived many years in Campbell, California. In the 1980s they sold their home and moved back to Turlock closer to Carrol's mother Edna. Edna passed away at age 93 in 1989. Following the death of his brother-in-law Harold in 1997 he became increasingly closer to his sister Marian, who always looked after her little brother, he loved Pauline too, but she drove him crazy, he always said "I Love Pauline but she talks too damn much." Carrol began to have problems with dementia, Pauline did as well. Marian was the only sibling to escape this. Marian, however, became ill and died in a three day time period in August 2001. Carrol was there at the hospital every day holding her hand and sitting with her for hours. He was in the room with her and her two boys when she died on August 16, 2001. Pauline followed a year and a half later on January 5, 2003. Carrol's mental state deteriorated. He was still able to get around, but by in 2007 a growing heart condition slowed him down. His conditioned worsened and he eventually passed away on June 11, 2008. I am sure at heavens gate he was greeted by the women in his life, Edna, Marian, and Pauline. I hope they can stop fussing over him long enough to let this wonderful man rest in peace.
Obituary published in the Modesto Bee June 18, 2008:
CARROL LESTER HEIDT APRIL 30, 1924 - JUNE 11, 2008 Carrol Heidt, age 84, passed away at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA. Carrol was born in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was active in football and track. He went to college in Sacramento, CA. Carrol was a World War II Army veteran in the European Campaign. Carrol was a mechanical designer in the Bay Area for many years. He was an owner/operator of a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. He was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. In later years, Carrol and Joan traveled and enjoyed watching football games. Carrol will be remembered for his jovial, but gentle nature. Carrol and Joan (Andrews) were married for 54 years, on Valentine's Day, 1954. Carrol is survived by his beloved wife, Joan and cherished daughters, Laurel Pacios-Rivera (husband, Nato) and Kelli Hoefs (husband, Bill); and grandsons, Michael Hoefs and Matthew Hoefs. Carrol was preceded in death by his sisters, Marian Seymour and Pauline Burke. Carrol was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of SIRS. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at The First United Methodist Church on Arbor Way, Turlock, CA. Private inturnment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, Hughson or The First United Methodist Church, Turlock, CA.
Obituary published in the Modesto Bee June 18, 2008:
CARROL LESTER HEIDT APRIL 30, 1924 - JUNE 11, 2008 Carrol Heidt, age 84, passed away at Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, CA. Carrol was born in Turlock. He graduated from Turlock High School in 1942 where he was active in football and track. He went to college in Sacramento, CA. Carrol was a World War II Army veteran in the European Campaign. Carrol was a mechanical designer in the Bay Area for many years. He was an owner/operator of a deep sea fishing business in the Morro Bay/Cayucos area for several years. He was a designer in the early years in the Aerospace Program at Vandenburg Air Force Base. In later years, Carrol and Joan traveled and enjoyed watching football games. Carrol will be remembered for his jovial, but gentle nature. Carrol and Joan (Andrews) were married for 54 years, on Valentine's Day, 1954. Carrol is survived by his beloved wife, Joan and cherished daughters, Laurel Pacios-Rivera (husband, Nato) and Kelli Hoefs (husband, Bill); and grandsons, Michael Hoefs and Matthew Hoefs. Carrol was preceded in death by his sisters, Marian Seymour and Pauline Burke. Carrol was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of SIRS. A memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 AM, Saturday, June 28, 2008 at The First United Methodist Church on Arbor Way, Turlock, CA. Private inturnment will be at Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, Hughson or The First United Methodist Church, Turlock, CA.
