Karl John Heinz

1978 - 2021

Heinz, Karl John

43, died at home in Oakland, Missouri on April 24th, 2021, surrounded by his wife and family, leaving us peacefully with his last breath.

Born January 18, 1978 to Ken and Veronica (Ronnie) Heinz, and raised in Richmond Heights. He inherited his good looks from his mother. He is and was the loving and beloved husband to Rebecca (nee Shelton). In 2011, Becky and Karl married in a Russian River wedding, still being talked about 10 years later. Their modern Love Story grew with the addition of two children. Karl loved being a proud dad to Kali and Hollis.

He was a link and a magnet. Wherever he went, he brought people together. His good time was ensuring everyone was having a good time. He loved travel, dancing (occasionally shirtless) and keeping people on their toes with a battle of wits.

As a TKO DJ, his knowledge of pop music (and b-level movies) was unequalled. He especially liked Van Morrison, Van Halen and Whitesnake. He enjoyed posting pictures of his Dad wearing black dress socks with shorts.

Despite questioning many of their decisions, his love for the Cardinals was fully ingrained from birth. He worked as maitre d at Shannon's downtown and often discussed his thoughts on the Cards with columnists and others. His favorite personal sports were snowboarding, rolling dice and swimming.

He embraced everyone and gave no quarter to bigotry of any kind. He was the best friend you could ask for - fun and rock-solid dependable. No situation in life existed that Karl did not make better. He stood up in over 27 weddings (sans dresses), owned the dance floor in hundreds more, and created lifetime memories at every turn. His friends span almost every time zone and continent.

His friends learned that a life well lived is made possible when Karl creates a bespoke trip to the Lou, to the Bay Harbor, Sonoma and Napa wine country or all over Europe. Being a Karlapooloza alumni remains one of life's greatest honors.

He was an avid reader and seeker of knowledge. He graduated from Little Flower grade school, St. Louis University High ('96) and Miami University of Ohio ('00), where he was a loyal member of Phi Kappa Tau, where he got a PhD in "killing it". He also attended school in Luxembourg and the University of Washington. He was probably smarter than you, but never acted like it.

He had impeccable taste where it mattered -- namely 1. wine, and 2. asking Rebecca to marry him, which (after some serious thought) she did.

Always an ambassador for St. Louis, he lived and worked in London, Chicago and San Francisco, before returning to St. Louis in 2015 and working remotely for the digital payment processing firm World Pay.

With friends and family all over the world, he was loved especially by his nieces and nephews: Madelyn, Bennett and Mitchell Montgomery of Affton and Alex and Demetra Heinz of Chicago. That same love is embraced by his sisters and their spouses, Laura Montgomery (Greg) and Abigail Heinz Finney (Patrick) and his brother Kenneth Jeremy Heinz (Effie).

Karl bravely fought a rare type of cancer for almost four years before defeating it by passing from his mortal coil.

Services: A Celebration of Karl's life is being planned for this summer. A private farewell will take place at the Golden Gate Bridge. Memorials may be made to the International School in Richmond Heights, any organization fighting cancer or just by doing something good for someone else - an act that was always second nature to him.

If Karl were writing this obit, he would likely leave these words of wisdom-tip well and remember dress shirts are made for shredding.

We should all cherish the times, unprompted, he told us that he loved us. Keep those in your heart.

Hug one another often in his memory.