Karl W. Fuerste

KARL W. FUERSTE, 79, of Crooked Lake, Columbia City, formerly of Grand Rapids, Mich., died Saturday, May 20, 2006, at 11:30 p.m. Born Jan. 20, 1927, in Duluth, Minn., he was the son of Frederick "Fritz" and June "Mimi" (Brown) Fuerste. Most of his early lifetime was spent in Dubuque, Iowa where he attended high school graduating in 1944. He played varsity football and was a member of the National Honor Society. His business allowed him to live in many places in the midwest in addition to Dubuque, he also lived for periods of time in St. Louis, Mo., St. Paul, Minn., Grand Rapids, Mich., Milwaukee, Wis., Stuart, Fla. and Columbia City. He joined the United States Navy shortly after high school serving during World War II and was discharged in 1946. He graduated from the University of Iowa, in 1948, then continued his studies there receiving his Masters of Science in Mathematics, in 1952. He was also a teaching assistant during graduate school. He did actuarial work for several life insurance companies, later becoming a consulting actuary in Chicago, Ill. He was also responsible for forming two life insurance companies in Michigan where he lived until his retirement to Stuart, Fla., in 1991. He is survived by his wife, June Fuerste of Columbia City; one son, Karl W. (Nancy) Fuerste Jr. of Fort Wayne; one daughter, Rachel Diane (Randy) Longhurst of Milford, Mich.; brother, William C. Fuerste of Dubuque, Iowa; four grandchildren, Jason Longhurst, Waterford, Mich., Krystin Longhurst of Milford, Mich., Angela (Pete) Felkner and Erik Fuerste, both of Fort Wayne; one great-grandchild, Logan Michael Felkner of Fort Wayne. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Frederick Fuerste. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial bequests may be made in Mr. Fuerste's memory to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN 46725. To send condolences to the family or to light a memorial candle in Mr. Fuerste's memory, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com.