Heidi Lieben Hochstrasser Obituary →

Heidi Lieben Hochstrasser

1987 - 2016  | Obituary | Condolences

Heidi - Lieben Hochstrasser, 29

Heidi Lieben Hochstrasser passed away December 4, 2016 after a traffic accident in Driggs, Idaho. She was 29 years old, but in those brief years she lived a full and remarkable life that touched many people with her adventurous spirit, her many skills, and her sparkling energy. 

Heidi was born March 21, 1987, in San Francisco, California. She started pre-school in the Netherlands where her family lived for a year before returning to Fairfax, California. There she attended Manor Elementary School, playing soccer and softball and acting in plays. She was in sixth grade when the family moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where she attended Wickham Elementary, Northwest Junior High, and West High School; she played flute and volleyball, toured Italy and the Galapagos with school classes, and traveled with her family to Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Turkey. She enjoyed making art and music, riding horses, hiking, fishing and skiing with her family, and caring for family pets.

Her college years at the University of California, Santa Cruz, began with their Wilderness Orientation; she subsequently helped lead those trips, got certified as a Wilderness First Responder, and worked for UCSC Recreational Services leading other student excursions, from backpacking and kayaking to wine-tasting. She lived in the Laurel Manor "Food Not Lawns" Co-op, tending an extensive garden with fruit trees, ducks, rabbits, and chickens they slaughtered themselves when they needed chicken soup; she made jams and wine from their plums and wood-fired pizzas in their home-built cobb oven. She taught kids at the Life Lab at the UCSC Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems, gave classes on gardening and baking and permaculture through the Santa Cruz Free Skool, and interned with the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) in Watsonville, California. Her semester studying abroad in Concepción, Chile prompted her whole family to meet her in Peru to hike the Inka Trail to Macchu Picchu; she and her boyfriend Jacob went on backpacking through the Atacama Desert and down to Tierra del Fuego. She graduated from UCSC in 2010 with the B.A. in Women's Studies and the B.S. in Health Sciences. 

After college Heidi helped start up Companion Bakeshop in Santa Cruz, where she took on pastry production, sold at farmer's markets, delivered around town by bicycle, and wound up co-managing the bakery. She led volunteer urban foraging with the Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project, participated in CSA's (Consumer Supported Agriculture) and WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms). She built her own bicycle and toured from Barcelona over the Pyrenees and through France, exploring baking methods at patisseries en route and ending with a cooking class in Paris. Two years ago she and Jacob moved to Driggs, Idaho, where they helped build and then run the Teton Rock Gym. She designed their logos, taught climbing, started and coached a traveling team, founded and ran a summer youth climbing camp, and provided a climbing program for local schools, where she also worked as a substitute teacher. Adventures with food continued too: proofing breads for 460 Bakery, catering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; when she and Jacob butchered their own venison, she made jerky and pâté; this fall they successfully hunted an elk and again dressed it themselves. And she continued to hike and climb and ski and fish all across the western US, treating her fortunate friends and family to beautiful hand-made cards, delicious healthy food, and masterful baked goods from profiteroles to canelés. 

Graceful climber and skier, skilled baker and artist, much-loved teacher and coach, Heidi was fearless in the kitchen, intrepid in the wilds, full of joy and loving energy. She is survived by her parents Scott L and Julie Berger Hochstrasser (Tomales, CA); her two brothers Franz (Washington D.C.) and Hans (Elkhorn, WI) along with Hans' wife Renee and their children Aubree, Cohen, and Eldin; her grandparents John and Viola Berger (Chico, CA); and her boyfriend Jacob Yufa (Driggs, ID). A memorial service was held in Driggs on Sunday, December 11; another celebration of her life is planned for Fairfax, California March 25, 2017, details to follow. Donations are welcomed at HeidiLieben.org to support the causes she so passionately furthered.

Published in the Teton Valley News on December 27, 2016

http://www.tetonvalleynews.net/obituaries/heidi-lieben-hochstrasser/article_68120956-cc9e-11e6-8d8f-b7c5b8cbef76.html

Published in the Iowa City Press-Citizen on Dec. 29, 2016

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/press-citizen/obituary.aspx?n=heidi-lieben-hochstrasser&pid=183234466#sthash.60dObKWm.dpuf

Teton Valley News: Community to remember woman killed in accident on Ski Hill Road →

By Jackson Adams TVN Staff - Dec 7, 2016

http://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/community-to-remember-woman-killed-in-accident-on-ski-hill/article_91bb90da-bce8-11e6-8302-e3921059e0e5.html

Heidi Hochstrasser passed away athe age of 29 this week following an auto accident on Ski Hill Road.

There will be an event this Sunday to remember a young Driggs woman who died in an accident early Sunday evening on Ski Hill Road.

Heidi L. Hochstrasser, 29, was driving her silver Toyota 4Runner on Ski Hill Road near Pioneer Trail Road, about a quarter mile past the Idaho state line, at around 5 p.m.

The 4Runner lost control, sliding into the oncoming lane, where it was struck on the passenger side by a red Ford F250 pickup, which was carrying two passengers, who were unhurt. Both vehicles were, according to witnesses, travelling below the speed limit when the collision occurred.

Despite having her seat belt on, Hochstrasser sustained serious injuries and was taken to Teton Valley Hospital and later transported to EIRMC, where she passed away.

Hochstrasser was an avid climber who coached and taught at the Teton Rock Gym in Driggs. She studied biology at UC Santa Cruz and had moved to the valley several years ago.

There will be celebration of Heidi's life this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Senior Center in the Driggs City Building. All are welcome. Call Pastor Karlin Bilcher, (208) 270-7507, with questions.

Community shares thoughts and feelings about Heidi Hochstrasser

If you would like to share your pictures or memories of Heidi, please send them to editor@tetonvalleynews.net.

Sweet Heidi, Rest in Peace. You were a bright light that was taken away before your time. We are overcome with grief and sadness in losing you. You were a gifted coach, mentor and friend to my son and to so many other kids. As a mother, I will be forever grateful. You will be greatly missed and we treasure your memory always and forever.

Our deepest sympathy to your family, Jacob, and your Teton Rock Gym family.

Diane, Roy and River Temple

Such a tragic accident and just want the family to know a lot of people who didn't even know her are thinking of her and her family at this time. Sending our best from the Frye family! Stay strong.

Chris Frye

I just heard about Heidi's death and I am so shocked and sad. She and I met two years ago, both of us from California and both of us had moved here with our boyfriends. Jacob, her boyfriend, and her were helping with the start of the rock climbing gym in Driggs and I also became involved with my boyfriend. Shortly after knowing her, she invited me over to bake bread and I'll never forget the passion that was Heidi in the kitchen. She came from a biology background at UC Santa Cruz and was able to explain to me the step by step process of baking bread, in a way that was interesting. We had other culinary adventures together, from fermenting Kimchi to a Russian themed dinner party, cooking many Russian delicacies I'd never heard of. She recommended Ruth Reichl's books on cooking and baking and instilled in me an appreciation for creating great food and sharing it with great people. We bonded over a shared favorite book, West with the Night, which no one I'd met had read before, and we talked about the joys and insecurities about being in your 20's. After leaving my job at the rock gym, I would see her less often but she would always give me a big hug whenever we saw one another. I worked with her many times in catering for Bill Boney's Dine In Catering this past summer and she was the person on the team that everyone could depend on and who was simply fun to be around. She had passion for life, in whatever activity she chose. I can't believe this has happened and I know that so many people feel an immense loss from her absence.

-Kelsey Tyler

I wish I had better words for this.

Heidi was such a perfect role model for my daughters. She was able to grant them the gifts of confidence control and determination in ways that embodied kindness patience, and love. A tough combo to achieve.

A climbing instructor by title only, one of the best teachers of life in the real way.

Missed but never forgotten.

Thank you

Scoop Carlson

• From Lucy Carlson
• From Jude Carlson
• From Ada Carlson

Heidi was an amazing coach and friend to me and everyone around her. She got me into competing in climbing and was always super supportive, whether I got first or last place. Heidi was super patient, and was an amazingly kind and thoughtful person. She worked tirelessly and poured so much effort into the climbing team, and I really appreciate that. She was a wonderful teacher, and I probably wouldn’t be as good of a climber as I am today without her. I miss her so much, and I’m glad that Heidi was a part of my life. I will remember her and her spirit every time I go climbing.

Sincerely,

Sofia Carlson

Updated Dec. 8 - 9:39 a.m.

Memory of Heidi Hochstrasser, who passed away recently:

"Heidi, I can't believe this. You were such a dear friend to me when we were young. I have so many good, vivid memories of our time together. You helped shape me as a person. When I think back to the times in my life that I had the most fun, I remember an evening when we played in the large grass piles on White Hill Middle School's lawn with your brothers. We bonded over our love of The Beatles, would have sleepovers, take baths together and give each other back rubs. We loved playing with your playmobiles, your hamster, dog and a awesome early 90s text computer game where you got to be a princess.

My sister passed away in the Oakland fire on Friday, so if you see her could you please tell her I love her. Thank you."

Sabrina May Dolan

Just a few days before I remember watching you teach these two kids at the climbing gym...you were all laughing and joking around. I remember just watching made me smile and laugh too. I remember thinking how genuine you are. I'm so sorry you left so soon. It's hard to believe how fragile and fleeting life can be. Sending all my love to you and your loved ones.

Marinna Elinski

Heidi was a graceful role model, passionate, and caring. (Which we will see when all of the bulbs she planted this fall grow next Spring.) I am so grateful for the time we had and know that her impact on my family and our community is monumental.

Wendy Kincaid

Teton Valley News: Local Climbing Team Takes Podiums at ISU →

Submitted by Teton Rock Gym (written by Heidi Hochstrasser) - Mar 2, 2016

Teton Rock Gym’s Climbing Team made a strong showing in Pocatello this past Saturday at the 2nd annual Nine Lives Sport Climbing Competition, hosted by the ISU Climbing Club. Teton Valley youth climbers Roy Temple (12), Weston Barnes (12), and Nicholas Elliot (10) all made the podium in their respective age groups, while Sofia Carlson (11), Tucker Warden (11), Ansel Visser (12), and Ezra Visser (9) also scored well and climbed with determination and style. The TRG youth team trains twice a week in Driggs and is open to anyone ages 8-18. This was their first competition of the spring sport climbing season. Brady Johnston, avid local climber and one of the founders of Teton Rock Gym, took gold in the Adult Open/Advanced Class after a fiercely competitive finals round.

The event was the first round in the Idaho Climbing Series, a budding organization that has been busy coordinating competitions across the state. Proceeds from the event benefitted the East Idaho Climber’s Coalition in their efforts to improve and restore climbing areas at Massacre Rocks State Park. Local climbers have their eyes on future competitions in Boise on March 12, and Bozeman April 8-9.