LINDA FOEGEDING FUSS, WIFE, MOM, GRANDMA, ROBINSON AND KHS65 CLASSMATE

I am sorry to post this obituary for our classmate Linda Mae Foegeding Fuss who died 5/21/15.  I just now learned of her death, a few days too late to publish the date of her service.  May she rest in peace in love. 

Obituary for Linda Fuss

Linda Mae Fuss passed away on May 21, 2015 at the age of 68. She was the loving wife to Cristian Fuss. She is survived by her sister, Marilyn (Orrin) Schatteman; Mother to Mary O’Toole, Tammy Elkins, Angela Fuss, Alex Fuss; Grandma to Stephen, Christopher, and Abigal Elkins, Haley, Triston, and Damian O’Toole, William Fuss. She is preceded in death by her father, Clemuel Foegeding, mother, Birdie Foegeding.

Linda was born on April 21, 1947. She grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. She was a Daddy’s girl. One of her great highlights growing up was being Queen of Job’s Daughters. It was a very proud moment for her and her family. She met her husband Cristian Fuss at work. They soon started dating after they met and went on to be married for 34 years before her passing.

Linda had many loves in her life. She loved jewelry. As a child she loved to play dress up with her mother’s jewelry. As she got older she continued this love and always had on some beautiful piece of jewelry. She loved to keep her nail long and beautifully painted. She loved flowers and working in the yard. She loved dogs. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She loved interacting with people which led her to working in retail. She loved the St. Louis Cardinals. She loved to watch the feel good Christmas movies. Most of all she loved her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandma. She was always there for her girls and did her best to help them when they needed it. Linda will be remembered for all these things as well as her strong will. If she was determined to do something, she kept her focus on it and made sure she got it done. We love you Linda, Mom, and Grandma.

Services: Visitation Tues, May 26, from 4 to 8 pm at BOPP Chapel, 10610 Manchester Rd., Kirkwood. Memorial Service Wed., May 27, 11 am at Kirkwood United Methodist Church, 201 W Adams Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Interment following at Oak Hill Cemetery, Kirkwood, MO. www.boppchapel.com

MEMORIAL DAY AND HONORING OUR KHS65 VETERANS & MORE

I've just finished watching the PBS Memorial Day Concert with Gary Sinese, one of my few favorite TV personalities.  It was a moving presentation and put me in mind of all of my relatives, ancestors and friends who are or were Veterans of all American wars.  Hats off to you all, and thank you for your service.  

This evening was especially moving in that before watching that PBS presentation I received an email from Jeff Beardsley's sister, Christine Davis.  (See below for the post please if you haven't already.)  I was sooo gratified to know that through a KHS66 contact Christine is now in contact with Cheri Graves, a KHS girlfriend of Jeff's, and of course, our Dave Beardsley also contacted her, and now I learn too that KHS65 classmate and friend, Jeff Wible, saw my post either here or on Facebook, and contacted his brother, Don KHS63, who got in touch with Christine.  Don and Jeff were pals and Don shared happy times with Christine.  SO THANK YOU Jeff, this is what "reconnecting" is all about, and I am honored to be a part of this wonderful gift to Christine, especially on this Memorial Day weekend.  Her brother Jeff Beardsley died in 1968 while serving in Viet Nam, gone way too soon, but not forgotten!

Another NEWS FLASH, I was notified early this morning, thanks to ever-vigilant Ken McBride,  that our KHS65 classmate Toby Cotton was on the front page of today's St. Louis Post Dispatch.  I had to go out early, so have not yet read the article, but I went over to the neighbor's to see the page, his photo is right there front and center!!!  IF I can find it online, I'll share the URL, but I'll warn you, the Post's website is terrible...:-))  I will say that I am so much at odds with their content, constant errors, and other things I don't subscribe any longer, but I sure do miss the crossword puzzles - but then we CAN find them on-line for free!!!

Please see my earlier posts below regarding the many many Veterans in our KHS class and those around our years, our GRATITUDE to you all for your service to and for US.

BLAST FROM THE PAST, A GREAT ARTICLE ABOUT KHS65 SPORTS HEROES

For all of us, this recently published article is a GREAT review of our famous 1964-65 era Track and Field teams under Coach Fred Lyon. Recognize two guys in this photo?  READ ON at THIS blog.  It is a great review of the records of Jim Olson, Gary Schmidt and others of our "era" in the track and field world.  If you scroll down to my posts (Jan 7 '15 and Dec. 23 '14) below with Jim Olson's lists of track and field participants and records, you'll realize this article is the result of Jim's interview with James Connaway, the author of the article.  ENJOY - and above all, THANK YOU to Jim and Gary for not only running so fast back then, but continuing to run great lives and contribute to the world in positive ways.  You make us in KHS65 VERY PROUD...and as Jim O would say remember to "Put litter in its place"....

JEFFREY BEARDSLEY, USMC, 1947-1968, FAMILY REACHING OUT

During my recent trip, I received an email from the sister of our deceased classmate Jeff Beardsley.  She had been googling around and found us and wondered if anyone still remembers her brother.  I just had a chance today to contact her again and "chat" on email and she has given me permission to tell about their family and to solicit contact from anyone who remembers Jeff - she is very interested in reconnecting.  I am going to paraphrase her messages to me:  They lived on Culloden Road, in Kirkwood for 10 years.  Christine was 12 when she and her parents moved to York, PA after his KHS graduation. This is one reason we always had trouble finding him, and then finding out about his death in Viet Nam.  Jeff went to school at Cape Girardeau (SEMO) for a couple of years before joining the Marines, Camp LeJeune then Nam, and is buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery. Their parents then moved to the Indianapolis area where her Mom currently resides, Christine lives in Fishers, IN, a suburb of Indianapolis.  Several people have told me over the years that the Jeff Beardsley on the Viet Nam Wall was not our classmate, but I did the research and knew it was, he's been in our In Memoriam list for some time; it was puzzling to others because he isn't listed as living in MO or Kirkwood.

I told Christine I didn't know Jeff at KHS, other than by sight and maybe had a class with him.  I DO remember how handsome he was, gorgeous skin!  Christine: "I can't tell you what a joy it is to contact someone who knew Jeff even a little bit.  My parents and I moved to York, PA when I was 12 so I really did not know or maybe don't remember Jeff's friends other than a girl who lived in our neighborhood who I used to call "Bradley lady" when she TP'd our house.  Jeff's girlfriend was Cheri Graves, [KHS66] and after Jeff was killed she moved to Denton Texas.  I graduated from High school in York then my parents moved to Carmel, IN. I went to Wilson College, Purdue and graduated from Indiana University. Jeff liked motorcycles and his Corvette which my father kept until 2 years ago even though we moved several times.  That Corvette was always in the garage and my Dad wore Jeff's leather jacket until he passed away a year and half ago.

Jeff was my only sibling, I was 16 when he was killed in 1968. As with all families of fallen veterans, especially in senseless wars such as Viet Nam, Jeff's death pretty much destroyed my family.  

I have three children, Jeffrey, Lisa and Stefanie and four young grandsons, Ethan 7, Alex 5, Davis 4, and Lincoln 5 months; my husband passed away ten years ago.  I work as an artist doing Raku fired ceramics and show at various art fairs in the Midwest and at some galleries.

I would be thrilled if you would give my email address out to anyone that might want it. I have always hoped to contact people who knew Jeff.  Though he has been gone a very long time it only seems like yesterday to me.

Christine Davis"

In searching through our 1965 Buzz Book, I only find one other student on their street, Sue Orten, KHS66.  Cheri Graves was also in that class.  I know many of our KHS65 mates know students in other classes, so if anyone knows the current whereabouts of either of these two gals, perhaps you'd share the info with Christine, or ask them to contact her.  I'll see what I can scare up too.  If any of our KHS65 members were friends with or even knew Jeff, lived in their neighborhood or if any of you Marines ran into Jeff in the service, please contact Christine.  Actually, I didn't want to post her email address due to spam, but if I spell it out, that shouldn't be a danger, she is at crisd1254 at aol dot com.  Here is a photo of Christine. 

Now that I know where Jeff is buried, I'll visit his grave when I get to go to Gettysburg.  I have two ancestors, one Army of the Potomac and one Confederate, who served there, but I've never been.  Although we visited 5 Civil War battlefields on our recent trip, we didn't get to Gettysburg...it's on my bucket list for sure.  It is so very satisfying when we are found by relatives of our classmates or others in our past lives through the internet.  I am so glad Christine reached out to us and hope some of you can reach out to her.