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Christian Stuetz Obituary
July 24, 1959 - November 17, 2018
Our beloved father, husband, son and treasured friend Christian Stuetz passed away peacefully on November 17, 2018. He was surrounded by his wife Kathy Wheadon, daughter Sarah Stuetz and son Alexander Stuetz, as well as Alexander's fiancée Jane McNicoll and Kathy's sister Judi Wheadon. Chris valiantly fought metastatic colon cancer for eight years. To survive so long is almost unheard of, and is clearly a testament to his indomitable spirit and positive outlook on life (and not to mention the wonderful care he received from UCSF and the Herrick Cancer Center). He never allowed himself or his family to be defined by this terrible disease.Chris was born in Evanston, Illinois on July 24, 1959 to Susanne and Herbert Stuetz. His parents returned to Austria with their young sons Peter (6) and Christian (5). Chris grew up in the beautiful city of Salzburg, where he quickly demonstrated his propensity to stop and smell the roses. He moved to the US in 1984 to find his fame and fortune in the Los Angeles area. He started his career at Security Pacific Bank, where he met Kathy. They married in 1991 and promptly moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where they both worked for Bank of America. At the end of 1995, Chris retired from his 9-5 career to become the primary caregiver for his eighteen-month-old son Alexander. Chris never looked back and was so very proud to be there day and night for Alexander, and eventually his daughter Sarah. He was not only a wonderful father, but a world class cook as well. Chris had an incredible zest for life and tackled everything he did without reserve.
After putting his family first, Chris was a big believer in giving back to his communities. Until three months before he passed, he was driving cancer patients to their appointments with the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program, earning a "100 Ride" badge. For many years, he worked with a local grass roots agency, Daily Bread, picking up milk and other foods close to their expiration date from a local market and delivering them to local agencies in need. He was a well loved and respected adult leader with the Piedmont Community Service Crew (PCSC), getting involved when Sarah became a member but continuing to lead after she graduated from Piedmont High School. He especially enjoyed the Rebuilding Together Oakland (RTO) project that PCSC did every year, teaching high schoolers how to hammer a nail and hang doors. He was the adult leader for the project two years running. Well after Alexander and Sarah left Piedmont High School, he volunteered in the cafeteria, doling out pizza almost every Friday. His generosity with his time, talent and compassion knew no bounds. We hope that you will be inspired by his volunteerism and follow in his footsteps.
Our dear husband and father left an indelible mark on everyone he encountered with his generosity, selflessness and love. Anyone who talks about Chris mentions the example he set for us all with his unselfish love and positive outlook on life. Chris is preceded in death by his father, Herbert Stuetz (1984), and his beloved dogs Annie (2017) and Mary (2018).
In honor of Chris' commitment to giving back, we ask that donations be made in his memory to a charitable organization that captures your heart and passion. Donations can also be made to Rebuilding Together Oakland/PCSC at www.rtoakland.org/pcsc or mailing a check to 520 3rd Street, #109, Oakland, CA 94607. Or, in recognition of the wonderful care he received, the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at UCSF. Please make checks out to the UCSF Foundation and on the memo line or an accompanying piece of paper, write GI Oncology Research/Venook (B0683) in memory of Christian Stuetz. Contributions can be sent to UCSF, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339. Our family will match all gifts up to $2,500 to either of these worthy organizations.
A celebration of Chris' life and legacy will be held on December 21 at 3p at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way in Berkeley.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Christian Stuetz
4 Entries
Christian's self-portrait
Gabriele Amann
December 17, 2018
Beth Black
December 9, 2018
My condolences for your loss. During this holiday season, I hope that your family shares lots of memories together. He brought joy to all he knew. Peace, joy and love to all of you.
Gabriele Amann
December 9, 2018
I read the obituary of Christian in the local newspaper and was really taken aback. Christian and I were classmates in high school and we spent a lot of time together. Actually, Christian was a very dear and reliable friend. Our Clique - a bunch of young people - went swimming in summer, skiing in winter, dancing in Clubs and at traditional Austrian balls, or we met at our homes, sitting together, discussing, making music or only having fun. I will always remember Christian playing guitar and singing songs of Cat Stevens, Roger Whittaker and John Denver and in this way, he will remain in my heart. I looked up my keepsakes of this time and found a report of our high school of the year 1976. In this year the school officials had decided to take a picture of Christian on its cover. Christian had made this linocut a self-portrait in the art class. I will attach this picture to show a piece of Christian of former times. It's sad, that we didnt keep in touch over the years. However, it makes me happy reading of his valuable and satisfying life in the midst of his family and his activities for the community. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, his wife and his children. May the remembrance of beautiful and happy moments ease you through this difficult time.
Gabriele Amann
December 9, 2018
I read the obituary of Christian in the local newspaper and was really taken aback. Christian and I were classmates in high school and we spent a lot of time together. Actually, Christian was a very dear and reliable friend. Our Clique - a bunch of young people - went swimming in summer, skiing in winter, dancing in Clubs and at traditional Austrian balls, or we met at our homes, sitting together, discussing, making music or only having fun. I will always remember Christian playing guitar and singing songs of Cat Stevens, Roger Whittaker and John Denver and in this way, he will remain in my heart. I looked up my keepsakes of this time and found a report of our high school of the year 1976. In this year the school officials had decided to take a picture of Christian on its cover. Christian had made this linocut a self-portrait in the art class. I will attach this picture to show a piece of Christian of former times. It's sad, that we didn't keep in touch over the years. However, it makes me happy reading of his valuable and satisfying life in the midst of his family and his activities for the community. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, his wife and his children. May the remembrance of beautiful and happy moments ease you through this difficult time.
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