Christopher Stephen "Chris" Hiatt

Christopher Stephen “Chris” Hiatt, 43, of Indianapolis, passed away at his home on Sunday, September 26, 2021 after a courageous battle with ocular melanoma. Chris was born on November 16, 1977 in Riverside, California, to Stephen and Connie (Bean) Hiatt. On June 26, 2010, Chris was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Kara Streit, at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel. This loving union produced two of his greatest loves, his children, Drew and Grace.

Chris graduated from Brownstown Central High School in Brownstown, Indiana. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. Upon graduation, he went on to attend the University of Michigan where he earned his Master of Engineering degree. Most recently, Chris earned his Master of Business Administration from the Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. Chris was currently employed by Cummins as a Pick Up Account Leader where he had over 15 years of service. As a leader, Chris’s relentless passion and dedication to the product helped Cummins win recent quality awards. His devotion and energy to his work, colleagues, and Cummins as a whole was inspirational to all throughout the organization.

Beyond his scholastic and professional careers, Chris was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle “Uncle Champion” to his family. A man of faith, Chris made God and family paramount in his life. He was an extremely active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianapolis where he worked to establish a contemporary service for church members. He also found great joy in teaching Dave Ramsey courses to those in his church and being part of the Spiritual Care team. His faith for God through his entire life made Chris influential to not only his family and friends, but those he worked with also.

Chris enjoyed the outdoors. Fishing and hunting were sports he shared with his son, Drew, along with exploring the woods, teaching him about cars, and decorating outside Christmas lights in hopes of winning the neighborhood competition. Chris always enjoyed his daddy kisses from his daughter, Grace, along with watching and participating in her imaginative plays and dance shows. Going on adventurous family excursions in his beloved jeep, watching a good movie and making a bowl of popcorn or playing games were just a few of the ways you could find Chris. Dance parties, singing, or morphing into a goofy tickle monster for Drew and Grace were common occurrences for Chris to have with his family.

When not at work or church, Chris could be found spending time with family or fixing something at his own home or someone else’s home. With a mechanically inclined mindset, Chris was very meticulous when it came to fixing things whether it was changing the oil in his own vehicle or hanging a picture frame. This mindset of always going the extra mile was not just present when Chris was working on his own belongings, but when he was lending a helping hand to a friend or family member who could use his skillset on theirs. Chris had a deeply generous persona that was always looking for a way to relieve the burdens of those around him. The selfless spirit he maintained and his love for God and those in his life will be traits that will live on through his friends and family in the years to come. He was the ideal role model for so many in multiple ways; Chris will be deeply missed.

Preceding Chris in death were his maternal and paternal grandparents, John and Phyllis Hiatt and Ernest “Pete” and Barbara Bean.

Survivors include his wife, Kara Hiatt; children, Drew and Grace Hiatt; parents, Stephen and Connie Hiatt; sister and brother in law, Jennifer and Jeff Dettmer; father and mother in law, Larry and Sharon (Kray) Streit; brother and sister in law, Tim and Holly Streit; nieces and nephews, Jacob, Jonathon, and Jaclyn Dettmer, and Alyssa and Logan Streit; a host of extended family members, colleagues, and many friends.

Chris’s Life Celebration® Visitation will be Monday, October 4, 2021, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the O’Riley Funeral Home, 6107 South East Street, Indianapolis. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 in Calvary Lutheran Church, 6111 Shelby Street, Indianapolis. An additional hour of visitation will take place at the church on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, from 9:30 a.m. until the start of the funeral service. Following the funeral service, Chris will be laid to rest in Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville, Indiana at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5th. There will not be a funeral procession; guests are asked to please drive independently to the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church or The Drew & Grace Hiatt Education Fund, C/O O’Riley Funeral Home; envelopes will be provided at the funeral home on Monday. Please visit www.ORileyFuneralHome.com to share a favorite memory of Chris or to sign the online guest registry.

Support the Hiatt family via this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-hiatt-family

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, he who formed you, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine….” Isaiah 43:1