SUSAN "JUNE" FUERSTE

Susan "June" (Zickel) Fuerste, age 84, of Columbia City, IN, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, after a long illness, on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.She was born in St. Louis, MO on June 13, 1929 to Albert Zickel and Dorothy (Quinn) Zickel.

June was a loving wife and homemaker.Through the years she was known as a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, MeeMaw, June Bug, and a friend.She enjoyed making braided rugs, beautiful pinecone wreath and gardening.
Fishing with her husband, walking in the woods and sharing with all, her love for cooking and bird watching were favorite pastimes.As her children grew she began her tenure with Old Kent Bank, in Grand Rapids, MI, as a bank teller.
That brought her to the stage in life when children married and grandchildren arrived.A retirement move to Stuart Florida carried new adventures for June and Karl.As years passed, time told heading nearer to family was in order.June was married fifty-three years before Karl Sr. passed away.She then found living on Crooked Lake with her son and daughter-in-law, a comfort and the events of great-grandchildren arriving over the next few years, joyful.

June is survived by, son, Karl W. (Nancy) Fuerste Jr. of Columbia City, IN; daughter, Rachel Diane (Randy) Longhurst of Milford, MI; brother Joseph (Babs) Zickel, of Ballwin, MO; Muggs (Nicholas) Verzino of St Louis, MO; grandchildren, Jason (Andrea) Longhurst of Davisburg, MI; Krystin (Jake) Sponsler of Whitmore Lake, MI; Angela (Pete) Felkner of Fort Wayne, IN; Erik Fuerste of Fort Wayne, IN; and six special great-grandchildren, with two more arriving soon. June was preceded in death by her husband Karl Fuerste Sr. of Columbia City, IN.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, February 8, 2014 atMost Precious Blood Catholic Church, 1515 Barthold Street, Fort Wayne, IN followed by a celebration of June's life at the family home.Burial will follow at a later date.IN lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to the Black Pine Animal Sanctuary or Most Precious Blood Catholic School Tuition Assistance Program. The family would also like to express their deepest appreciation to the Heartland Hospice of Fort Wayne, IN and the MD2U of Fort Wayne, IN teams, for their support and guidance. Arrangements are with DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, Columbia City, IN.