David Lee Heiden

David “Dave” Lee Heiden, passed at the early age of 59 on September 16, 2022 in Jacksonville, FL. Born May 20, 1963 in Rockford, IL he was the son of Dave and Norma (Rudisill) Heiden and devoted husband to his loving wife, Jaime.

Dave worked for Landstar trucking for 29 years before moving to Rush Trucking and TCO Transport. He loved NASCAR, Detroit Red Wings, Miami Dolphins, fishing, hunting, and for several of his early years worked the pyrotechnics for On the Waterfront and the Mount Morris 4th of July festivities. The trucking industry took him from Rockford to Florida, up to Michigan and ultimately back to his love of Florida where he and Jaime were planning out their retirement.

Dave was a generous man and was always there for his family, friends and even those he did not know. Every 2 weeks he donated blood and platelets totaling over 16 gallons in his lifetime. As true to his generosity, in the end donated his corneas, arm and leg bones, pericardial sac and torso tissues.

He is survived by wife Jaime (Carrier) Heiden, his mother Norma Heiden, sisters Wendy (Keith) Schaible, Sherry (Brad) Ward, Suzanne (Michael Kuehne) Heiden, Holly (Keith Stewart) Heiden, and brother Steven (Falina Bertolasi) Heiden, nephews Jason Heiden and Tyler Schaible, nieces Lindsay Ward, JoDel Stearns and Paisley Stearns. Predeceased by his father, David Karl Heiden, grandparents Karl and Francis Heiden and grandparents Vernon and Ethel Rudisill.

In lieu of flowers the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation of blood, platelets, and /or monetary donation in Dave’s name to the Rock River Blood Bank or your own local blood center.

A service will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory 1860 S. Mulford Rd, Rockford IL from 12:30-2pm. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the Blackhawk Athletic Club 2023 Broadway, Rockford IL, from 2-4pm.