Curtis L. Fuchs

The greatest man we have ever known is now with Jesus. Our sweet Daddy, Mom's loving husband, the best Pop ever, a great family member to so many loved ones, an amazing Ag teacher and student mentor to generations of youth, a dear friend to many, a respected community leader and citizen, and the kindest Godly man has completed his earthly journey with his family by his side. Dad passed at home on the prairie in Burton in the comfort of his home after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. He is now free of pain and disease, and is at peace with our Lord and Savior.

Curtis Lynn Fuchs was born on July 27, 1948 in Brenham, Texas to Franklin and LaVerne Zibilski Fuchs. He lived an honorable, humble, successful and loving earthly life for 77 years. He entered the gates of Heaven on December 20, 2025.

Curtis grew up in Burton on the family farm and land cultivated by his grandparents R.A. and Martha Fuchs. R.A. Fuchs was a successful farmer, prominent Washington County leader and Representative in the Texas House in Austin for many years. His parents raised him on the same property which afforded him experiences with caring for livestock, including Red Poll cattle, picking cotton, raising corn and other crops, and making hay. He worked hard as a youth around the farm to learn a strong work ethic very young. He played baseball for Washington County Little League and attended Burton schools where he was a good student, a Burton Panther football and baseball player, played clarinet in the band, participated in Washington County 4-H and Burton FFA, and was a well-rounded young man. He was a graduate of Burton High School in 1966. He raised and exhibited steers, barrows and lambs at the Washington County Fair. Specifically, he was always proud of his Grand Champion Lamb honor and trophy from 1964. Curtis was part of showing Red Poll cattle as Franklin Fuchs & Sons exhibited them at the county fair, as well as, the San Antonio and Houston Livestock Shows with success. He worked part-time jobs at Brookshire Brothers Grocery Store, Coca Cola, Carmine Charolais Ranch, and at a greenhouse while he was in school at A&M. He and his family were members of St. John's United Church of Christ his entire life where he was baptized and confirmed on April 15, 1962.

Curtis attended Blinn College and Texas A&M University, earning his Associate of Arts degree from Blinn and Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education in 1970 from TAMU. He also earned his Masters of Education from Prairie View A&M University in 1973. He completed his student teaching in Needville at their high school and then began his career as a Vocational Agricultural Science Teacher at Cy-Fair High School in 1970. He taught for 11 years and began influencing many student's lives with animal projects and experiences attending livestock shows. In 1981, he had the opportunity to move back home to begin a career with Brenham Independent School District where he continued his Ag teaching career at Brenham High School for 32 years from 1981-2013. This career as a teacher and FFA Advisor allowed him to teach many Freshmen students about the world of agriculture, guide livestock projects and show participation, train leadership teams, guide young officers on all levels, including a state FFA President, and mentor young students for 43 years. So many students that span several generations share that Mr. Fuchs was a teacher who influenced and impacted their life immensely. He also shared education and student mentorship with many special Ag teachers from all over Texas, as well as many fellow administrators and educators in the district. Dad's life was touched by those he worked with just as much as he impacted others with his kind, gentle spirit. He completed his career in 2013 with recognition and a well-deserved retirement celebration for 43 years of service and dedication to a job beyond the classroom reaching into young people's lives that spanned all hours of the day, weeks and every month of the year. That is just what he did.

By far the most important part of his life was his family. He married the love of his life, Kathleen Steinbach on March 6, 1971 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Carmine. They built a beautiful life together and complimented each other, working hard in their careers while raising their family. Together they welcomed two daughters, Christy Lynn Fuchs and Courtney Leigh Fuchs, in 1973 and 1977, respectively. After just over 10 years living in Cypress, Texas, the family moved home to Brenham. As a family, education and extracurricular participation in 4-H, FFA and school activities of all kinds for the girls kept them busy. Dad was the "champion" behind all the success the family shared for many years with animal and ag projects of all kinds. He had a keen eye for picking out show heifers, raising livestock projects and breeding some of the best Santa Gertrudis cattle that would produce champions for the Fuchs family to cherish forever. Winning major livestock shows in Texas with both daughters having both Champion and Reserve Champion honors at them, as well as, National Junior Santa Gertrudis Shows were certainly huge accomplishments for our family and something Dad was so proud of. CF heifers began to be a source of pride as dad bred and raised quality stock. When the girls were done, other youth had opportunities to show CF Cattle with success. Earning a handful of National Champions over the years was definitely something Dad was very proud of. The legacy of CF Cattle Company continues with the red cattle in Burton producing excellence. Mom and Dad have made this possible by working together for many years, hand in hand, to achieve this. Curtis and Kathy celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2021 and have been blessed with 54 years of marriage.

Curtis was definitely an animal lover, having cared for and nurtured animals his entire life. He spoke of special dogs named Snoozy and Cookie, as well as his horse Traveler. Until the end, Dad felt that his horse was still somewhere and needed to be picked up and at his farm. He was often spoken of as a cattle whisper. He could work with a young show calf and make it become calm and ready for show or suitable for a young person to work with and be successful with. He was a lover of the land and all-things agriculture. He worked hard all his life to nurture the land and care for his animals while having a full-time job. He loved the land that he and Mom were able to acquire in Burton, build a home and ranch around, and his tractors and land work were important. He reveled in the opportunity to finally be able to buy a cab tractor and put up amazing working pens and barns for his herd. He loved riding on the Gator, checking and feeding cattle and seeing the new baby calves...even when his disease prevented much labor individually anymore. The land and animals were his peace. The way he called the cows and cared for the animals will never be forgotten.

Dad was blessed to have many affiliations, awards and honors to celebrate and remember him by. In Cypress, he was very involved in the Cy-Fair Rodeo and the work of this event to support the FFA. He was active in St. John's UCC as a member his entire life and also served on the Church Council and part of the Pastoral Search Committee. He has been a member of the Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas his entire career and received tenured teaching awards recognition for his many years of service, retirement recognition in 2013, and was inducted into the Agricultural Teachers Association of Texas Ag Teacher Hall of Fame in 2022. He and CF Cattle Company has been a member of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, and the Mid-Coast Santa Gertrudis Association where he served as Youth Advisor. In 2020, the SGBI Shows and Exhibits Committee dedicated the National Santa Gertrudis Show to Curtis Fuchs which was an amazing honor. Curtis also had the opportunity and honor over the years to be asked to judge cattle shows which he was so proud of and took very seriously and respected. 

Some other honors he received post-retirement were the Washington County Farm Bureau Outstanding Ag Educator in 2017 and the Washington Soil and Water Conservation District Conservation Teacher of the Year 2018 as well as the Conservation Teacher Region III Runner-Up in the Texas Conservation Program. He had a scholarship named in his honor for a Brenham FFA student of excellence and has been presented the past 4 years. We are pleased that this scholarship will continue to remember his life and legacy, and will allow Brenham FFA students to continue their education in his honor. 

Curtis L. Fuchs is survived by his wife Kathy, daughters and sons in law Christy and David Moran and Courtney and Wes Mason, all of Brenham. He also cherished and was so proud of his beloved grandchildren Parker Lane Mason and fiancé Ryann Fatheree, Madison Claire Moran, Logan Shane Mason and Dawson Cade Moran. Also surviving him are his brother and sister-in-law Robert and Rosi Fuchs and sister and brother-in-law Cindy and Tommy Hart, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. Don and Judy Steinbach. He is survived by several aunts, uncles, numerous cousins, nephews and a host of friends, fellow educators and special red cattle. 

Preceding him in death include his parents Franklin and LaVerne Fuchs and parents in law Raymond and Bernice Steinbach, his grandparents, brother-in-law Gregory Wagner, numerous aunts and uncles, cousins and his most recent family pet dog mini Aussie, Aggie.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 26 from 5:00 to 7:00 in the evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham to receive family and friends. A funeral service and celebration of life will commence on Saturday, December 27 at 10:00 in the morning at St. John's United Church of Christ in Burton with burial following in the church cemetery with Pastors Darrin Holub and Glen Schoeneberg officiating. 

Pallbearers chosen to honor and serve include: Doug Pierce, Scott Schulze, Scott Eckermann, Dean Fuchs, Allen Grainger, Dr. Peter Wunderlich, Yancy Strait and Charles Hodde. Honorary pallbearers are his grandchildren Parker Mason, Madison Moran, Logan Mason and Dawson Moran, his dedicated caregivers Monse Enriquez, Linda Gaskamp and Jade Rigsby, special neighbors Charlie and Sandy Chovanec, family friend Jeannie Kroll and ranch helpers Dalton Stein, Brady Russell, Larry Ashorn, and Jody Naumann.

Memorials can be shared with the following in his honor and memory if wished: Brenham FFA Parent and Alumni Association to maintain the legacy of the Curtis Fuchs Leadership Scholarship, Hospice Brazos Valley, St. John's United Church of Christ or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. 

His disease may have affected his life, but it did not define him. He faced it with patience and bravery, and he did not want his struggles to affect his family. He fought Parkinson's Disease for over 20 years and with modern medicine and great treatment and caregivers, he was able to face it and take in stride what life presented him. And, we did all we could to help him and so many supported and loved him through it. We are so thankful to everyone that has had a part in his life and journey and know he is a hero and legend in so many ways to so many. May his legacy live on forever. Well done, good and faithful servant.