Gerald Fouchey

August 15, 1925 – January 24, 2013

A life well lived is the greatest form of art.

Jerry was a devoted husband and father who is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Elizabeth (McCallum) Fouchey; five children - Susan Elizabeth (John) Lawton, Gerald Stanley (Lynn) Fouchey Jr., Margaret Jean (George) McDermid, Mary Jo (Neal) Mathisen, and Robin Marie (Daniel) Lesher; six grandchildren – Ronald Blauet, Adam Beshara, Daniel Fouchey, Erin Bolin, Marybeth Lawton, and Susan Lesher; and two great-grandchildren – Kayla and Alex Blauet.

Jerry was born in Detroit Michigan to John Marcel and Elizabeth Regina (Seitz) Fouchey, the third of four sons. He graduated early from St. Rose High School in the same city and entered the United States Army at 18 to serve in the European Theatre of World War II. He achieved Marksman status, and was decorated with the Purple Heart for wounds sustained there. He recorded many details of his military experience in a short memoir shared with family and friends.

Returning from the war, he married his high school sweetheart and entered the trades as an electrician. His motivation and skill evolved this position into the role of electrical contractor in which he served for many years. Semi-retirement found him engaging in the roles of building/electrical inspector for several cities, and community education instructor for courses in home repair.

Ever the good example for his young children, he raised our career sights higher by attending classes at Wayne State University. As kids we believed that he could do anything or fix anything. One of the things that stood out for us was that as we were growing up, it seemed like he could answer any question about nature or science that we had, and that was long before Google.

He traveled with his wife extensively, generating thousands of photographic images he shared with family and friends upon his return. He was artistically inclined; engaging in many activities including: leaded glass, wood carving and model building. He and Mary Beth golfed and square danced for many years. He was a faithful member of his church, performing countless acts of service. In later years he shared in ministry to the church with his wife; serving as a lector, acolyte, and lay minister. He will be remembered as a man of great integrity, who always worked to do the right thing in any situation. After a long and valiant battle with Parkinson’s disease, he died peacefully with his wife at his side.