As of: March 1, 2024, 6:31 a.m
By: Andreas Steppan
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“He was a completely different person on stage”: Niko Waldherr from Bad Tölz was only 63 years old.
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Niko Waldherr from Tölz died completely unexpectedly.
He ran a furniture store with his brother and was a fixture in the local music scene.
Bad Tölz
- The news of Niko Waldherr's death came as a complete surprise to the people who knew him.
Just a few weeks before, Tölzer had been on stage and, like every year, performed with his band “Painted Desert” at the New Year's Eve concert in “D'Amato” in Wolfratshausen.
As a businessman, he had, as usual, run the Waldherr furniture store with his brother Peter and recently attended a trade fair.
Niko Waldherr died on February 12th at the age of 63 after a short, serious illness.
Niko Waldherr grew up in a musical household
“Music was his great passion,” say his wife Christine and his brother Peter Waldherr.
That wasn't a coincidence.
The Tölzer native grew up in a musical household.
Grandfather Rudolf Schilling was a concert pianist, and mother Gisela also loved classical music.
Niko Waldherr played guitar and piano and founded his first band called “LA” at the age of 16 together with his classmate Peter Horn – later known for the “Bananafishbones”.
Niko Waldherr knew every “Beatles” song by heart and enthusiastically played “Genesis” records to his little brother Peter.
He was a DJ at high school disco parties and celebrated in the then popular “Turmkeller” – where he only got drunk on the music.
He hardly ever drank alcohol throughout his life.
In Bad Tölz and the surrounding area, Niko Waldherr remained a fixture in the local music scene for many years, especially as bandleader with “Painted Desert”, and before that also with the “Tortilla Chips”, who were the music bar's house band in the 1990s “Rocks Off” was founded.
With the formation “Wedaleichdn”, Niko Waldherr was supposed to perform as the opening act for “Seer” in Kufstein in May.
Niko Waldherr came out of himself on stage
“He was a completely different person on stage,” says Peter Waldherr.
From everyday life, most people knew Niko as a rather reserved character.
But in his performances he let himself go.
And at the same time let his listeners share his extensive knowledge of music.
“His bandmates affectionately called him Explanation Bear,” says Christine Waldherr.
Niko Waldherr's professional path took him in a different direction.
After graduating from high school, he began studying mathematics and then computer science - following in the footsteps of his father, Dr.
Wilhelm Waldherr, who was a physics and math teacher at the Tölz technical college.
Niko Waldherr later worked as a sound engineer for Bavarian Television.
In 1992, Niko and his brother Peter, who was ten years younger to the day, decided to take over the management of their parents' business.
Her grandfather founded it in 1954 under the name “Teppich Schilling” on Ludwigstrasse.
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Run a furniture store together with my brother
His daughter Gisela – the mother of Niko and Peter – took over when she was just 16 years old.
She died of cancer in 1984 at just 45.
The business then continued to run for a few years under external managing directors.
When they stopped, the sons took over the helm.
The “Waldherr – Ihr Raumausstatter” shop, which had since moved to Marktstrasse and then to Salzstrasse, is now located on Wachterstrasse.
In 2013 the brothers opened a branch in Penzberg.
In 2019 they expanded the range to include furniture.
“Waldherr” became a furniture store – and, according to Peter Waldherr, has since had its most successful years in business.
At 63 years old, Niko hasn't yet thought about quitting.
Loving father of two adult children
“We have worked together every day for 30 years,” says Peter Waldherr.
“Many people were surprised at how harmonious we were as a pair of brothers, that was very unusual.” Niko was the more cautious one, Peter the optimist when it came to business matters.
“So we always settled down to a healthy level.” Their relationship was also close outside of work.
Peter was modeled on his elders in many ways, for example he is also a hobby musician.
Niko Waldherr met his future wife Christine in 1989.
They got married in 1994.
The children Johannes and Regina were born in 1996 and 1998.
“Geli”, as Christine is called, misses her husband as a “loving father, kind-hearted, humorous, charming and clever person”.
(branch)
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