Ernest Fassbender Jr., 90, known to many as Fuzzy, was called to his heavenly home on January 3, 2019.
Fuzzy was born September 16, 1928, in Slinger, to Ernest and Marie (nee Mauch) Fassbender. He graduated from Hartford Union High School in 1946, leaving his car on the front steps of the high school as his senior prank. Fuzzy, ranked as a Corporal, served in the Army from 1951-1953 as part of the occupation of Germany after WWII. Even when serving his country, he was getting his hands dirty serving as an auto mechanic. He was a member of Beaver Dam VFW Post 1163 and Hartford American Legion Post 19. In 1966, Fuzzy married his beautiful bride, Judy (nee Neitzel), and they had 5 children.
Fuzzy was a local legend and hero to many. He was well known for his racing career from 1951 to 1982, where he won many tough races and entertained thousands. He was a member of the MSC, where he served as President, and later a member of the EWSC. Fuzzy was the area champion in 1962, the recipient of numerous area track championships, and was an inaugural inductee into the Wisconsin Short Track Hall of Fame in Hartford. In 1987, he joined the Dodge County Fair board where he was asked to form a racing program which ran at the Dodge County Fairgrounds racetrack for 20 years.
Fuzzy founded, owned, and operated Suburban Rubbish Service in Rubicon from 1961-1986. In 1987, Fuzzy was inducted into the National Solid Waste Management Hall of Fame. He named his purple garbage trucks after each his daughters, Miss Kelly, Miss Lana, and Miss Tiffany. Fuzzy was involved in community politics by serving on several school boards, including Peace Lutheran School in Hartford and as president of Sayleville Elementary School in Rubicon. After having sold his garbage business, Fuzzy and his wife, Judy, owned and operated Fuzzy and Judy’s Rubicon Oasis from 1993-1997 where on any given night, you could hear “Friends in Low Places” or Hank Williams Jr., playing on the jukebox.
Fuzzy loved helping others, a few of his ventures were driving school bus when asked, organizing Halloween parties for the community and lending a helping hand; including offering jobs to those in need. Throughout his life, he enjoyed camping, traveling, belt sander racing, watching his sons Kent and Lance race, spending time with family and his dachshunds, and being called “Grandpa Beep Beep” by his great grandkids.
Fuzzy is survived by his wife Judy; his five children, Kent (Roxanne), grandchildren Tyler and Kyle; Kelly Brian, grandchildren Hannah and Jeremy; Lana Letto (Tyrone), grandchildren Nicole (John) and Brittany (Kyle); Tiffany Curley(Rick); and Lance (Nicky), grandchildren Kristian, Noelle, Jolene, Lilly and his great-grandchildren Oliver, Wesley, and Winona. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Duane (Elaine) Neitzel and Dick Schmid, sisters-in-law Maxine (Jim) Ferronand Susie Roedl (special friend Bill Prechel) and many other family members and friends.
Fuzzy is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Rothbauer and her husband Joe; mother and father-in-law, George and Mildred Neitzel; brothers-in-law, Harris Neitzel, Hank Vredeveld and Bob Roedl; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Schmid, Karen Neitzel and Shirley Neitzel, along with other relatives.
Fuzzy will be forever remembered in our hearts and minds. He is now up in Heaven racing his greatest race on the golden racetrack. May his legend and stories of his hard work, dedication, determination, and love for his family, live on forever in the memories of many.
Visitation for Fuzzy will be held on Sunday, January 6, 2019 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and also on Monday, January 7 at church from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
A funeral service to celebrate the life of Fuzzy will be held on Monday, January 7, 2019 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam at 1:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Riverside Memorial Park, Fox Lake with graveside military honors.
Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd., Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family. You may send private online condolences or sign the family’s guest book at www.cstonefs.com
