Arthur B Fuller

Art Fuller, the firstborn son of Louis and Edna (Hoag) Fuller, was born at home on October 27, 1927, in Reasnor, IA, where his father managed the coop elevator. The family moved to Kennedy Station, IA, before settling on a farm in 1929 near Owasa, IA, where Art began his education. The family later moved to another farm near Owasa before moving, in the spring of 1941, to a farm just northeast of McCallsburg, IA. Art graduated from McCallsburg Consolidated High School in 1945. He began to further his education at Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls, IA. However, during the winter of his first year he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he volunteered to become a paratrooper. He participated in the Occupation of Japan in the aftermath of WWII as a member of the 11th Airborne. After his discharge as a Sergeant from the U.S. Army, Art returned to the states and to his high school sweetheart from the farm down the road. Art proposed to Sybil Britson at Younkers Tea Room in Des Moines, IA, while Roger Williams played Autumn Leaves on the piano especially for them. They were married days later on July 20, 1947, in Des Moines.

Following their wedding, Art and Sybil followed Arts father to Boulder, CO, where he was trying his hand at chicken farming. After seeing that it would not be a profitable venture, Art worked construction and then started driving a truck, delivering meat to area markets. It was at one of the markets that Art was offered a job with a meat manager who brought him into the world of meat cutting which would remain his career. Art took meat manager positions throughout the United States bringing his family with him as his career advanced. The Fuller family moved to Casper, WY, before returning to Iowa, living in Grinnell, Ottumwa, and Des Moines. Art took a position as Director of Meat Sales in Fargo, N.D. Then the family moved to Columbus, WI, where Art went into business with his brother, co-owning a grocery store. It wasnt long, though, before Art moved his family to Appleton, WI, while he worked in nearby Little Chute as the Regional Meat Director for United Grocers. Art next ventured to Plant City, FL, to work in stores owned by a friend. He was courted by Farmland Foods, who eventually convinced him to move to Denison, IA, in 1976. He took on the position of Retail Meat Specialist, traveling the country offering training and giving seminars dressed in his spotless tuxedo. Farmland relocated Art and Sybil to Lilburn, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. After retiring from Farmland in 1989, Art took a position with Excel Meats, a division of Cargill, as Pork Merchandiser and Meat Consultant. In 1993 Art and Sybil moved to Russellville, KY, where they could be close to their youngest daughter and only grandson, and the commute to Nashvilles airport was only an hour. Art retired from Excel on January 1, 1997, and enjoyed his retirement in Russellville. In 2011 Art and Sybil moved to Chandler Assisted Living in Bowling Green, KY, where they enjoyed friendships, card playing, and other activities with fellow residents and staff alike. In February of 2012, when health issues became more complicated for both of them, they moved to Sterling House Assisted Living in La Crosse, WI, to be closer to more family.

Art had many interests, but his family was the highlight of his life. He got a kick out of teaching his grandchildren how to play pool, golf and various card games. Many of his younger male relatives will fondly, albeit painfully, remember being schooled in karate by Art. Art and Sybil put hundreds and hundreds of miles on their cars and in the air to attend weddings, graduations, and baptisms. If family was visiting them, one could bet the evening would be spent at the dining room table playing Uno or Dominoes. Art was never shy about taking Sybil out on a dance floor and could often be caught with his granddaughters and other young relatives standing on his feet as he twirled them around for their turn.

During his retirement, if Art wasnt traveling, he could typically be found in one of three places. He would be at his computer playing either Mahjong or Solitaire or emailing his enormous contact list of friends and family. Or on nice days he would be found at the local country club taking in 18 holes or socializing. If the weather wasnt cooperating, he would be in his favorite recliner enjoying old western movies starring John Wayne or watching Kentucky basketball, golf tournaments, or really any sporting event.

He was a member of Southern Heights Baptist Church, Russellville, KY. Art was also a 50-Year Master Mason of Acanthus Lodge #632 in Des Moines, IA, and a Noble of the Rizpah Shrine, Madisonville, KY. He truly enjoyed all the work he did with children through those organizations and proudly supported the Shriners Children Hospitals. Art was a member of the Legion and supported various Veterans groups. He was also a member of the local country club wherever he lived.

Survivors include his wife, Sybil; three daughters: Diane (John) Landro of La Crosse, WI; Sally (Arlen) Harmoning of Eagan, MN; and Nancy Coursey of Russellville, KY. He was blessed with a large, loving family, including six granddaughters: Jennifer (Brad) Kooistra of Mount Horeb, WI; Aimee Derra of La Crosse, WI; Elizabeth (Ben) Leuenberger of Holmen, WI; Nicole (Bill) Grundel of Ocean Springs, MS; Korie DeBruin of Minneapolis, MN; and Stacey (Carl Bartell) Wilson of Minneapolis, MN; one grandson: Lee (Amanda) Coursey of Russellville, KY; five step-grandchildren: Kathy (Kerry) Shannon; Kim (Tom) Garrison; Jeff (Candie) Landro; Jason (Alicia) Landro; and Matt Harmoning; nine great grandchildren: Theo and Arthur Kooistra; Cody Derra; Ben Singleton and Ethan Grundel; Maddie and Birk DeBruin; and Reagan and Lauren Coursey; eleven step great grandchildren: Kevin and Adam Shannon; Hannah and Joe Garrison; Ethan and Owen Landro; Levi, Logan, and Lauren Grundel; Gabriella and Zelda Harmoning; three brothers and their families: Louis Keith (Marge) Fuller of Waukesha, WI; Michael (Jeanine) Fuller of Crest Hill, IL; and Charles (Lynne) Fuller of Round Lake, IL; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Wallace Fuller; and his grandson-in-law Mike DeBruin.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14th, at the Alden United Methodist Church in Alden, IA, with a gathering beginning at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the church with committal at the Jackson Township Cemetery (aka the Berlin Cemetery) near Owasa, IA. The family is being assisted by Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in La Crosse, WI, and by Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls, IA.

In lieu of plants or flowers memorials can be made to The Minnie Pearl Foundation or the Shriners Hospitals for Children.