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Allan Frank Fuches, 93

Allan Fuches, 93, passed away while under the compassionate care of the staff at Hospice of North Idaho’s Schneidmiller House. He slipped away in his sleep in the early morning hours of July 14, 2018. His death was the result of severe spinal complications.

Allan was born Nov. 6, 1924, to Frank and Lillian Fuches, in St. Paul, Minn. Even with the austere times brought on by the Great Depression, Allan loved talking nostalgically about life as a kid in St. Paul. Among his memories was growing up with his older brother, Larry, and younger brother, Jerry.

In 1942, after graduating from high school in St. Paul, Allan moved to Southern California where he secured his first meaningful job. He hired on as an apprentice carpenter in the building of Kaiser Steel in Fontana. While still age 18, his good-paying job of six months came to an abrupt end. In April 1943, at the height of World War II, Allan was drafted. He was inducted into the Navy and served in the Pacific on the attack cargo ship, USS Warrick. His ship carried 24 landing crafts that were deployed in numerous Japanese held island assaults, including Iwo Jima and the liberation of the Philippines.

In April of 1946, after several years of combat duty, Allan was discharged without a scratch. Soon thereafter he joined up with another tough and hard working outfit — his family. He entered the building trade with his dad, Frank; his brother, Larry; and his uncle, Andy Tykamp. It was also during this time that he met and married Sally Fuches. On July 1, 1947, they became a family with the birth of their daughter, Sherry.

In the ensuing years Allan gained invaluable building experience and eventually became recognized as a respected and highly sought-after general contractor. However, accomplishing this came at a price — years of hard work. In the early 1950s he moved his family to Alaska, where for five years he endured the elements while working on government housing builds. Then on returning to Southern California, Allan went to work in his Uncle Tykamp’s construction business. He began as a salaried worker, then partner and eventually took ownership of the business, Montclair Construction.

In 1986, after surviving 30 years in Southern California’s volatile building industry, Allan made a risky business decision. He moved with his second wife, Iris Fuches, to Lake Almanor in Northern California. At age 61, Allan struggled mightily before re-establishing himself as a builder within the Lake Almanor Country Club community. Upon retirement at age 80, it was estimated that Allan and his foreman, stepson Mike DeMoulin, had built 30 prestigious homes and two senior centers in the region.

In December of 2017, his health in decline, Allan moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to be near his daughter, Sherry Beno and son-in-law, Ken Beno. He died a short eight months later.

Throughout his long life Allan accomplished something many hope to achieve — becoming a better person with the passage of time. Resultantly, Allan’s regrets were few. He was among the few who unequivocally loved what he did for a living, but uppermost, he was among the many who loved his family. The loss of his wife Iris was hard on him. However, that missing was offset by the affection he had for his two stepsons, Steve and Mike DeMoulin. His love of family was enriched even more by his daughter, Sherry, and granddaughters, Heather Painter and Erin Beno.

Allan was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Fuches; his parents and his wife, Iris. He is survived by his brother, Jerry Fuches and wife, Sally; daughter, Sherry Beno and husband Ken; granddaughters Heather Painter and Erin Beno; and great-grandchildren, Olivia Miller, Brooke Painter and Jake Painter. Equally included are his stepsons, Steve and Mike DeMoulin.

The family of Allan Frank Fuches asks that any memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. A private family celebration of life gathering will be held at a time and place yet to be determined. Internment is planned for the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash.

Please visit Allan’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements.