Jeff was a spectacular person that could do anything that he put his mind to. If he could not figure something out, he wouldn’t give up until it was done. He was a big kid and so full of life. He had a great love of music. Years ago before he ventured into the DJ world, he used to make dance mix tapes with a single turntable and tape player and those were great! Once he became an electrician, he really learned to do just about anything. He started his childhood on his green Murray tractor and ended riding into the sunset on his new red tricycle.
“We will miss your presence, but know that you will live in our hearts forever.”
A few words from Jeff's family...
“On behalf of Jeff’s Mom, Dad, Cindy, and Glen”
“Just a few” cherished memories of our beloved Jeff!
Mom says the day Jeff was born will always be a special memory for her. It was to be a routine doctor visit in New Orleans that her parents took her to as Daddy was working and you were not due until Oct. 15th. At the visit my doctor said he was sending me to the hospital now as the baby was going to be born that night. I told him that couldn’t be as I felt fine. Jeff was born that afternoon on Oct. 1st. My roommate in the hospital told me she never saw anyone as proud and excited as Daddy was that day. Jeff was a good baby and my constant companion. We went everywhere together whether it was shopping or visiting family. Jeff’s favorite toys were his small Tonka trucks and cars. He would spend hours rolling his trucks along the edge of the sofa occupying himself.
As a child Jeff loved to be around other children and would give up his toys to others just to have someone to play with but of course never his favorite toy, his green Murry tractor. How he loved that tractor! Jeff I will miss you terribly but I will never forget you or my many memories of you. Until we meet again, all my love
As his younger sister Cindy came along he would love to be around her, so much that he would climb into the play pen with her to entertain her. Cindy recounts the following,
“Jeff was my big brother, my protector. I remember as a child waiting for him to come home from school so we could play. I remember surrounding him with dolls and stuffed animals in his bed because he couldn’t stand them, especially Ms. Beasley! We picked on each other as siblings do, but it was all out of love and affection. Jeff taught me how to ride a 2-wheel bike. I remember we gave Mama fits because I would zoom around the driveway and sidewalk so fast…and I could barely reach the pedals much less the ground. But Jeff was with me the whole time and wouldn’t let me fall. He continued to be my protector all through my years growing up. Everyone knew me as Jeff’s little sister. And I loved that! He took me out dancing for my 18th birthday, and anytime he went to BB’s I tagged along. We would always have a great time, and I knew Jeff was there to watch out for me.
Even though I’m older now, I’ll still miss my “protector”. You’ll forever be in my heart. I love you.”
When Glen was born, Jeff was so glad to have a brother. He was very attentive to him and would never want to hear Glen cry. He would keep calling his Mom to hurry up and come see about him. He would never leave his side until Mom got there. Even though they were 8 years apart, they were extremely close. Glen says,
“I always wanted to be like Jeff growing up. I always wanted to do what he was doing and go where he was going. He was my idol throughout my childhood. We used to wrestle as kids. He took me to my first rock concert, taught me how to make mix tapes, throw darts, and also how to DJ. I will never forget all the weekends at Daiquiris throwing darts and playing music. He always watched out for me. I will always love you and miss you forever. Watch over us!”
As the kids grew older Jeff and Glen would love to horse around. “I will never forget the time,” says his Dad, “the day Jeff came to the store where I worked and broke the news that I would have to patch a hole he and Glen made in the bathroom wall. They tried effortlessly to locate a piece of wallpaper to match the pattern so they could tape it over the hole so we wouldn’t notice it. Well, that wouldn’t happen, and I had to figure out just how I would tell their Mom. I was the easy one!”
Jeff was a “special” person who loved people. He could start up a conversation in a crowd of strangers who would end up being friends. A “colorful” fellow he was who loved music. From childhood he learned to play the piano. He would “entertain” the family for hours playing his favorite recital piece, Hava Nagila, over and over again. As he got older he learned to play the trumpet and became a member of the St. Charles Catholic High School Marching Band. His niece Sarah now plays his trumpet and says she will think of Uncle Jeff every time she plays it. After he finished high school, his music interests focused on a different style of music as he and his friend Matt started a DJ business “J&M Music Source” where he would “ham it up” as a record-spinning disc jockey. Oh how he loved that!
Like his father, Jeff began working at the early age of 15 and continued through his high school years and never stopped. Without a college education, Jeff proved to be very successful. As an accomplished licensed electrician, Jeff loved the trade and was exceptionally good at what he did. He often helped many family members with electrical problems and projects. But that’s not all! Jeff learned by “trial and internet” about how to fix just about anything from electrical to automotive and even carpentry. A true “jack of all trades”.
And of course, we all know that one of his favorite things in life was eating. And one of his favorite dishes was his mother’s Thanksgiving dressing. Oh how did he love her dressing. He recently spoke of how he was looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner.
Jeff, Daddy will always remember when you would enjoy teasing me about some “stupid” thing I did, like “seniors” at the wave pool! (private joke) And how many hours it took for you and Glen to put together the “technical” part of “Feucht Towne”, the unique Christmas village that inhabits our family room each year at Christmas. Glen remembers the countless hours perfecting it and the hours and hours of cutting up, a time he will never forget. “Glen and I wish we could drink one more Old Fashion on the porch with you.”
“Rest, my love, until we meet again!”
My love:
Where do I begin? I am so lost and miss you so much. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I had you for the past 20 years but that is just not long enough. I miss your big smile and your beautiful blue eyes and I long to see them. I would love to hear that big mouth of yours also, using your favorite 4 letter word!
Jeff, you worked so hard to provide for our family and we are so thankful to you for that. All you ever wanted to do was make good money. You never gave yourself enough credit. It bothered you that you did not have that college degree. But Jeff, you had so much more than that. You passed your electrical test on the first try and I remember telling you how proud I am of you. Anytime you needed another certification and had a test to take, always passed it with no problems. You are a very smart man and made our family proud. You loved electrical work. The stories were endless. You are an excellent electrician and took great pride in all your work.
I have never seen anybody love to eat like you do. My daily call or text, what’s for dinner baby?? If I had meat on the counter defrosting, I was sure to get a call…”What you cooking with that meat?” You were already talking about Thanksgiving dinner at your parents waiting for your mom’s oyster dressing. My man loved to eat and loved my cooking. I sure hope heaven has a giant buffet and a huge kitchen that our grandmothers can cook for you in.
Now, your music. Mr. DJ and the 80’s and 90’s. Your Ipod was loaded with all of your favorite jams, from Noel, to Information Society and we all know your favorite….Broken Radio! I had never heard this song before I met you but you loved it. It was your jam. You loved listening to your music. The garage was all set up. All your DJ equipment in there ready to go. Whether we were cutting grass, or washing the cars or you and the boys were throwing darts….the 80’s and 90’s were playing.
You used to tease me and tell me that I had no friends. I did not need any friends. I had all I needed, you and our boys. From the day I met you, you accepted me for who I was and accepted Brandon as your own flesh and blood. Never once did I ever hear step son from you. You are the only father Brandon has ever known and I thank you for that. I remember when we first started dating and Brandon did not want to share me. He put soap on your teeth. For those who do not know, Jeff had a car accident and knocked out his front teeth and had a temporary plate for a while. Then Brandon sprayed cologne on your nose spray and made your nose burn for hours. All thanks to the Dennis the menace movie we watched. We told that story often and it always made us laugh. And your excellent marriage proposal in Disneyland….oh the memories I will cherish forever. Then, trouble came…Zack--your Mini-me. That child is a carbon copy of you and I thank God for that. I have to be honest and say some of those qualities are tough to take. I can remember Zack and you fighting and Brandon and I would laugh. Zack would walk off and you would stand there shaking your head and Brandon would say, “What’s wrong? Its like yelling at yourself in a mirror isn’t it.” You could only laugh and say he is just like me…and yes Jeff he is.
I remember Steven telling me he has someone for me to meet. I met you at 3:30 in the morning when you got off of work. You came to our apartment to meet me. The next day you called and asked me what I was doing Saturday night and my response was whatever you are doing! I remember our first date to hear the band XLR8 at a bar called Poperazi in Baton Rouge. What a fun night. We kissed the entire night. How I long for that.
You had such a personality. Never met a stranger. I can remember many times going to parties, high school reunions and I would always tell you not to leave my side and you would not. We did not do anything without each other. Always together. Even a ride to Taco Bell for a quick dinner, I had to go to check the order so that you would not have to go back and kill someone for screwing up your order. Patience was not one of your finer qualities!
I just don’t know how to go on without you my love. Our home is so empty, so quiet. The days are full and the nights are terrible. I am surrounded by family, friends and our boys and still feel so alone. My heart aches and I am numb. I just can’t concentrate. All I do is think of you not being with me, with us. We told each other every day that we loved each other. Everytime we got off the phone or texting each other, it always ended with I love you. And I do Jeff, I love you so much and this is just killing me. I have learned to not take the little things for granted. Tomorrow is never promised. Life is way to short.
I am thankful to all of our family and friends who are here for me and our boys. I ask each of you to not take life for granted. To not let the little things get in your way. Live every day like its your last and tell those you love as often as you can that you love them because Tomorrow may not come.
How do I say Goodbye Jeff? I just can’t. We would have been married 16 years in December. I am very proud of that. Jeff, we still need your help. Please give us the strength to get through this.
To our boys, your Dad was so proud of the men that you are becoming. Brandon with his new job and motivation to finish his finance degree now that your health is better. And Zack, unbelievable how well you are doing at Rummel. Zack has always hated school and you have just thrived since starting Rummel. He is very proud of you both. I know he is gleaming with pride at your support for me right now. I have 2 amazing sons and your Dad and I love you both dearly.
I love you, I love you, I love you and I miss you terribly. I know I will see you again one day, but that is way to far away right now.
As my grandmother would say, I would walk a million miles just to see your smile………rest my love , rest.
I will love you forever!
Your wife,
Melissa
Well I guess there’s not much to say besides telling you how much I love and miss you dad. Mom, Brandon, and I are so lost without you. There’s not a second that goes by we don’t think about you. I know we didn’t have the perfect Father - son relationship but that’s only because we were so much alike. That’s why we butted heads so much. Regardless of how many fights we got into id take them all back at their worst moments just to see you. There are no words that can describe how much I miss you. There’s so many things I wanted you to teach me. Little things as tying a tie the way you do it and no one else’s way, how to work the DJ equipment (Brandon wanted to know how too), how to play the different types of dart games, endless things. Now that’s gone, but I know I’ll learn one day when I get back to you in heaven.
When I finally joined wrestling I knew how excited you were for me and how proud you were. I couldn’t wait to wrestle my ?rst match with you watching me and you didn’t even get to see it. Believe me dad, I will dedicate all my matches to you. You’re my new motivation.
The new camera came in and you would love it. It’s so cool with all the things you can do with it. Were all so clueless how to work it. I just wish you could be sitting in the mobile command center reading instructions and telling us how to work it. That’s so you. That’s all I want back. I’d do anything to get you back daddy. All I can ask from you is please help mom through this. She’s torn apart worse than any of us. We all know how much y’all loved each other. Please give her the strength she needs. Visit us and show us signs that your here with us. Just little things you can do would make our day.
Honestly dad, I can’t say anything more. I’m just so speechless. I wish I could sit here and type this sweet letter to you but I just can’t. I can’t think right now. There are no words I can say to express how I feel about this. You meant everything to me dad and losing you is killing me. Without you in my life is just unbelievable. I don’t know what to do with myself anymore. You knew how to do everything. When there was something wrong you had the things and the brains to do it. We didn’t need anybody else. Now you’re gone and can’t do the little things that make you truly amazing.
Dad I love you with my entire heart and miss you so terribly. Don’t think for one second you’re not on my mind. You mean everything to me and you will forever be in my heart.
Say hi to Rosie and tell her I love her for me.
I love you so much daddy,
Goodbye.
Zack
No one had a relationship like I had with my Dad. After all, not many people can say they remember the night they met their Dad. I wish I could tell you it went smoothly but that would just be a lie. The night Jeff came to pick up my Mom for their first date, I barricaded the door. With both arms stretched out across the door frame I screamed no as if I was being robbed. At the time that’s how I felt. This guy had another thing coming if he thought he was going to take my Mommy. As it turns out he wasn’t a creep at all, he was a new friend. In my world up until then there was only Nintendo. My new buddy though brought along a shiny new Saga and some ancient technology called Atari. He and I would take turns beating each other up in Mortal Kombat, and it seemed like he was the only one who could get past the alligators in Pit Fall.
The three of us would go see movies every once in awhile but one movie that left an impression on me though was Dennis the Menace. After seeing that movie I got the idea to take soap and rub it on his false teeth he had to use after his car accident. Next I took his favorite cologne, Obsession, and put a couple sprays on the tip of his nose spray bottle. He didn’t find this as funny as we all did, but I did find out his favorite four letter word. Even after all of this he still stuck around.
Just when things couldn’t get any better my friend Jeff decided to take my Mom and I to the place were every kid knows magic is real, Disney World. In a place like this, he was cooler than my Mom because every ride I wanted to go on, no matter how scary it was, he would ride it with me. I had spun pretty fast in a chair before Disney, but nowhere near as fast as we did in the tea cup ride. Then he threw us all a curve ball. It was there that I found out that he didn’t want to be just my friend anymore. He wanted to marry my Mom and become my Dad.
Not to long after they were married My Mom and Dad decided to keep the Disney magic going and gave me a new friend. A mini Jeff but we called him Zack. Jeff liked the name Zack because it was just like the Zack Morris the coolest kid at Bayside High from one of our favorite shows, Saved by the Bell. I think if we were black Zack’s name would have been Martin.
With everything in place the next years were spent growing as a family. My Dad had stopped being a warehousemen and gave up sending out delicious chicken nuggets to the world to start doing electrical work. He also must have became a part time repairman on nights and weekends or at least that what it seemed like by the way he would help anybody. He somehow learned how to fix just about everything. Which is pretty impressive considering this was before Google and Youtube, you know the dark ages.
Thats what makes this situation so hard. Who do I ask how to fix this broken heart? What do I do now? As I got older I know you felt that extra weight on your back. If you didn’t know, that was me leaning on you for support. I would pretend like I wasn’t and would deny it because that’s a trait both of us shared. It’s one of the ways how we were alike.
When I was at my worst, I let you and mom carry me. Crohn’s disease had me beat but with the combination of love, prayers, and surgery, I made it through. Shortly after, I wanted to become a man myself and got a full time job. For the first time I saw the world the way you had seen it. I’ll be honest I don’t know how you did this the whole time without complaining, because this sucks. I am happy though, it was because of my job I got to see you that Tuesday morning. I wish we would have said I love you to each other but we didn’t. Instead you just asked me a question. You asked “Do you have everything?” and I said “Yeah”. At the time I thought you meant my lunch, wallet, keys, and phone. In hindsight I see it differently. I see it as you asking me “Can you take care of you mother?” and “Can you watch over Zack”. My answer stays the same, Yeah. You were the Super glue of our family and I’m just plain ole Elmer’s but with you watching over me I know I can handle it. I love you and miss you so much, which will never change.
Your Son,
Brandon
P.S. Sorry our Heavenly mansion is filled with animals.
In memory of Jeffrey Feucht
Even though you must leave us, our hearts you will never depart. Though the sufferings are heavy, eternal joy you shall start.
The tears shed at the foot of your grave do not compare to the misery we feel, and we know you are looking down at us, our hearts you are waiting to heal.
When you were once with us, your soul sweet and kind, we loved you oh so much, you are always on our minds.
We cannot bear the empty space that you had once filled in; the memories and photos of you had always made us grin.
If we were sad, you made us smile; your love, you gave us lots. Now without your presence, our stomachs tie in knots.
Even though you walk this path alone, your love we will always clutch. May God accept you into His kingdom; we miss you so very much.
By: Sarah Grosse