Fred William Fuchser passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2010, at the Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Fred was born on January 8, 1937 to Christian & Ella (Widmer) Fuchser at the family home in Clipper, Washington, where he joined one brother & three sisters.
Fred was born with Cerebral Palsy, and in spite of his disabilities, he learned to walk & talk. When he was old enough, he helped with the many chores around the farm, picked berries, picked cascara bark and rode his three-wheeled bicycle(s) miles and miles looking for cans and bottles to sell. He was taught to save his money and to be self-supporting. In later life, it helped to buy his mobile home and for the many vacations that he took to Disneyland twice a year on the train. He visited Hawaii, Mexico, New York, Florida and several other states. Fred attended Acme Grade School and was home schooled.
When Fred was in his 30’s, he moved to Midway (south of Seattle) to live at his sister and brother-in-law’s mobile home park and with their help Fred was able to be independent. He applied and was accepted at the United Cerebral Palsy Center.
They employed the handicapped with jobs corresponding to their abilities. When the UPC no longer had funding, Provail took over and Fred found work helping in the office at Oydgen Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C. Although he only worked an hour or two a week, it was the first time Fred received minimum wages. The firm was located in the West Lake Center and he has many friends there. He worked there until he could no longer care for himself due to many medical problems.
In January 2009 Fred moved to the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley. He was very happy there and made many new friends; last year Fred was named King of the Care Fair. He enjoyed the activities, seeing the bunnies and birds on walks around the center and the good food that was served in the dining room. Sometimes his great-great niece would sit on his lap as they made their rounds outside and he would always ask when she was coming again.
Fred is survived by his three sisters, Elvena Isert (Lyle), Nancy Healy (Bruce) and Dorothy Handy (Kenneth) and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, James & Harold.
A special thanks to Doctors Stickle and Shetabi and all the wonderful people at the Life Care Center who took such good care of Fred and made his stay there so enjoyable.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 2:00 PM at the Saxon Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the home of his sister, Dorothy Handy in Sedro-Woolley and family & friends are invited.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.
Uncle Fred’s life was never easy and if you knew him you knew that he certainly had his days. But, he took the life he was given and made the most of it. He had many friends, he traveled whenever he could and would have traveled more. (Just recently he was planning a trip to Disneyland with Kathy and I, he thought October would be a good time to go….) Having him nearby this past year and a half was a gift. Every time we visited him he was so happy to see us, he always made us feel special. He had a great way with the residents and staff at the nursing home. He talked to everyone – flirted with the ladies, he was “engaged” to one of the nurses (they were going to honeymoon on Monkey Island at Woodland Park Zoo). He was fun and playful and inclusive. I’ll miss him. Sometimes life sends us heroes in unexpected ways.
This is hard note to write.. My memories of Freddy are always of his irrepressable smile. I was too young or just too scared 😉 to jump into the hay, but I always had Freddy to keep me company while the bigger kids were leaping from the height. On one of my last visits with Freddy he showed me around his house and we talked about all the pictures on his walls. I loved to hear Freddy talk about his dad, he loved his dad so much.. he was a “good” man, he would tell me, and I know he always mised him. I wish I could talk to him now and hear about Disneyland (“the greatest place in the world, he would say), marvel at his watch collection, and look at those pictures on his walls and listen to his memories. We love you Freddy. As my son said to me the other day, you are such a gracious man, I will miss you. “Caroline”…
I was very saddened to hear of Fred’s passing. I hired Fred at Ogden Murphy Wallace many years ago to do a variety of tasks in the office. He liked to use the paper shredder and would do anything he could to avoid doing my filing. Fred soon became a regular fixture around the firm and people noticed when he was not there. He always had a smile on his face and lived each day to its fullest. We were often amazed that he traveled to so many places and was so independent. I remember Fred liked watches and often times had a couple on his arms and a pocket watch in his pants. I know that Fred has a smile on his faceand so do I.
My treasured uncle Freddy; you will be missed …Never forgotten.
I came along later in the Fuchser klan and missed out on knowing grandpa and playing on the farm but none the less I will always remember the gift that you are to me and to this family. At our gatherings ; to see the delight in your face at being surrounded by your loved ones was a ray of sunshine to me. Talking to you never ceased to entertain, interest and bring laughter. You were a gem amongst gems and I’ll love you always. I will never forget your visit to Vancouver B.C. (my home) , staying up late with me and telling stories of grandma, grandpa and my dad. As I listened carefully it stunned me how very much you had to say.You talked about how in your life some people dismissed you and that you felt that they saw you as “being less” . Ive since never forgotten that conversation ; Ive upheld you in my heart as being more precious than you could know. I am sure there are far more people who had the pleasure of knowing you that were captured in this same way. Thankyou uncle Freddy for making myself and all your nieces feel so special. And for building onto my lifes lessons of “genuineness” and “true beauty”. I will one day be greeted by you in heaven and we will dance in perfect time. Until then, there will be many reminders for me here of my treasured uncle Freddy. always, your niece Rachelle Lynn Fuchser
I love you great uncle Fred. I will always remember your sweet smile when I saw you at St Joseph’s Hospital last year with Kristi. You have such a warm spirit and it will carry on through the lives of those you have left in this realm of life. You have blessed my aunts and uncles with a kindness and memories they will cherish forever. And just for being of my blood, I can say that I instinctively feel this family bond. I love you Freddy and know your journey has just begun! Love your great niece, Sarah
I love you uncle Fred. When I was little every Sunday after church our family would make the drive out to grampa and grandma Fuchsers home/ dairy farm in Clipper Washington. My dads 3 sisters would also bring their familys , and we would watch grampa milk the cows, or just follow him around the farm and struggle to understand his broken Enlish with his thick german accent, or play with the cousins in the hay barn climbing bails of hay and falling down in them , or mowing the yard with the push mower, riding the bicycle grinder/sharpener,grandma was always in the house or kitchen, and Uncle Freddy would let us ride his 3 wheeler bike. Freddy was always so good to us kids and he would always take the time to talk to us. We learned a lot about collecting and earning and saving money. He was always laughing and smiling. Ive only seen Fred a few times over the years ,the last time being when he was at St.josephs hospital in bellingham, I had a very nice visit with uncle Freddy and we picked up right where we had left off as if it had only been a short time since I had seen him. I went back the following night with my husband Dave but he had been moved to The Care center in Sedro Wooley. I had Freddy on my mind a lot lately and it was my intention make it down to see him. When i think of him passing, I think of it as a graduation, and I am so happy for him that he is free and he will be on the other side to welcome his sisters and nieces and nephews when it is our turn to pass to the otherside. How amazing it will be to see him unencumbered by a body that did not always cooperate Till we meet again Love you Uncle Fred.