Gerald Walter "Tiny" Heiden was born March 29, 1936, the first child of Walter and Edith (Spaulding) Heiden.

He attended Dundee High School. He was a farmer and worked at Ford Motor Company.

On June 19, 1954, Gerald married Dorothy Florence Rathke who was born on June 18, 1936.

They had five children including Gerry Allen who was born October 12, 1957 and died October 14, 1957.

Gerald Walter Heiden died on December 3, 2000 at the age of 64. Dorothy passed away on May 14, 2024 in Livonia, Michigan at the age of 87. Dorothy died on May 14, 2024 at the age of 87 in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan.