Linda Fuesz

Linda Anne Fuesz passed away on July 29, 2024 in Haxtun at the age of 80.

She was born in Grand Junction on July 22, 1944, the second of four children born to Dr. Lowell and Anna Mae Heiny. She graduated from Grand Junction High where she was active in the symphonic orchestra, was a violinist and also played the piano. She was involved in multiple clubs including serving on the student council as vice president and being a part of the United Methodist youth group where she also attended church all through her childhood. She received her associates degree from Mesa College in Grand Junction, where her father was the Vice President. She was named Miss Mesa College in 1964, was the Secretary of the Student Body Association, was a steperette and was named a Maverick Star Student. Following her graduation from Mesa, she attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins where she received her bachelor's degree in Home Economics and was also crowned Miss CSU 1965.

While attending CSU, she met her future husband, William (Bill) Fuesz. They went on a coke date, and when she went back to her dorm room, she told her best friend Cheryl (Graneier) Free that she had just met her future husband. Bill and Linda were married Dec. 18, 1965 during their senior year of college. Before they were married, Linda competed in the Miss Colorado pageant, where she was named as a runner-up, which made Bill happy because if she had won, they would not have been able to get married until her reign ended. Following graduation, they moved to Portland, Ore. where Bill worked as a district representative for Allis Chalmers. They quickly moved to Moscow, Idaho where Bill continued to work for Allis Chalmers and Linda worked for the University of Idaho as a secretary to the head of the Home Economics Department and took graduate classes. After two years, and with a baby on the way, they decided to move back to Haxtun to work on the family farm.

They settled south of Haxtun and welcomed their first son, Steven Todd Fuesz in April of 1968. This began Linda's lifelong devotion to her children. Her second child, Lisa Anne, was born in September 1970, but died at birth. Even though she was absolutely heartbroken, she made sure she was able to get to Grand Junction to be the maid of honor for her sister Kathy's wedding 10 days later. Christopher William was born in 1973 and Paige Kristin was born in 1976. Steven battled liver cancer starting in 1976, which he beat, but then a few years later he began a long fight with Leukemia. Linda was right by his side through it all, and when Steven passed away in 1982 she did not let the devastating loss shake her faith, instead it grew. Linda always had faith, but it was through these trials that she developed an even deeper faith in God. She was a fierce prayer warrior. Bill and Linda had a love filled marriage and they were always each other's best friend. They drew strength from each other through all of the trials they faced and their love for each other and faith in God enabled them to keep their marriage strong.

Linda loved being a grandmother and was always willing for the grandkids to come over and stay. She loved to play with them and there are many wonderful memories of spending time with Grandma Linda. She continued to support her grandchildren, just as she did her children, in all they did following them to sporting events, county fairs and even spent her 70th birthday helping shear sheep for the fair.

Linda was always involved in the Haxtun community. She was one of the women who started Busy Hands Preschool in Haxtun, directed the Junior Choir at the Haxtun United Methodist Church, volunteered at the school, helped with her children's activities, and was always present to cheer them on in everything they did. She taught violin and piano lessons for many years and shared her violin talents by playing for many church and community events. She was an excellent writer. In 1991 she entered a contest for Guidepost and was selected as one of the winners and was flown to New York for a writers workshop and her story was featured in Guidepost Magazine. Cards that she wrote to family members and friends were extra special. She loved her church and was always devoted as a Sunday school teacher, youth group leader, bible study leader and had a beautiful voice and sang in many different choirs. Even dementia could not take away her ability to harmonize while singing Christmas carols or the national anthem.

Linda was selfless in everything that she did. She was always willing to help others and her home was open to anyone in need. Through the years there were many guests at the Fuesz Hotel, some of them who had extended stays. Two of those guests became members of the family, Lorna Ilo and Hennawy Shehata. Linda always found the best in people and was kind to everyone. As beautiful as she was on the outside, she was even more beautiful on the inside. She cared for both her mother and her mother-in-law, who both had dementia in her home for the last years of their lives. It was one of the greatest gifts. As dementia became a battle for Linda, her sweet spirit, love for Jesus and love for others still shined brightly. She loved Bill and was a very devoted wife. Even at the very end, her eyes would shine when she would see him. We have great peace knowing that she is reunited with Steven and Lisa and is in the presence of Jesus who she loved and served so faithfully. As we carry on in this world, we know she continues to be in the stands cheering us on, the cheering section just reaches much higher now.

Linda is survived by her husband Bill Fuesz; son Chris Fuesz and wife Denean; daughter Paige Thompson and husband Scott; grandchildren Carly Daniel and husband Travis, Josh Larson and wife Jeni, Seth Thompson and wife Megan, Riley Thompson and fiancé Jayden Stieb, and Allie Thompson; great-grandchildren Haeden and Kort Daniel, Waylyn and Newt Harris and Delmer Larson; brother Bill Heiny and wife Dana; brothers-in-law Jim Hogge and Gary Fuesz and wife Vicki; sisters-in-law Carol Chapman and Mary Beth Hovel and husband Terry; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by children Steven and Lisa Fuesz; parents Lowell and Anna Mae Heiny; father and mother-in-law Marvin and Lucille Fuesz; brother and sister-in-law Bob and Linnea Heiny; and her beloved sister Kathy Hogge.

Services will be held at the New Hope Church in Haxtun on Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be given to the Linda Fuesz Memorial Fund and donations will be used to enrich music education in our community.