Ron Hill
06-25-2012, 10:22 AM
FRANCES C. HAUENSTEIN
February 13, 1918 – June 13, 2012
Frances Coffee Hauenstein was born to Ira and Ethel Coffee in Clayton, New Mexico, on February 13, 1918. Her family moved to Ivanhoe, California, when she was 8 years of age. She attended schools in Visalia and worked hard to help support herself and her family. She graduated from Fresno State with a teaching degree and a minor in physical education. She was an excellent athlete and eventually met and married Fred W. Hauenstein, who was captain of the University of Missouri track team.
Fred and Frances married in 1941 and enjoyed 64 years together before Fred’s death in 2006. The two of them began married life working at Lockheed Aircraft in Southern California during World War II. They returned to the San Joaquin Valley where Frances raised their sons Freddie, Jimmie, and Donnie while Fred drove trucks. In 1953 the couple opened a truck stop in Kingsburg where Frances fueled trucks while her husband continued driving to augment their finances. In 1954 they built a larger fuel station in Kingsburg and then opened a café on the site. Fred’s Truck Fuels and Café was a successful Kingsburg landmark on Highway 99 for four decades. Frances managed the café and many to this day remember the great chiliburgers she served.
As Fred and Frances succeeded, their willingness to help others became well-known. They gave freely of their resources, friendship, support and advice to stranded travelers, truckers and local residents alike. Her love of Kingsburg showed through her service as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Senior Center and the Kingsburg Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Kingsburg Gun Club, the Northern California Outboard Association, the Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church, and tutored young readers after school.
Frances was well known in American Power Boat Association racing circles as a strong advocate for her husband and sons (and grandsons) as well as being the best and most prolific sandwich maker in the pits. Many a racer or mechanic would have gone hungry without her “tailgate deli.”
Frances was preceded in death by her husband Frederick W. Hauenstein, sons James F. and Donald E. Hauenstein, brother Findley Coffee, sister Lola Christie and one granddaughter, Melcena Hauenstein.
She is survived by her son Frederick M. (Linda) Hauenstein, Oshkosh, WI; her daughter-in-law Kathy Hauenstein, Santa Inez, CA; grandchildren Dan (Kristy) Hauenstein, San Carlos, CA; Mike (Kate) Hauenstein, Cedar Park, TX; Hilary (Brad) Carpenter, Gilbert, AZ; Raina Hauenstein, Oronogo, MO; Ira (Amanda) Hauenstein, Anchorage, AK; and Jack Hauenstein, Albemarle, NC. She is further survived by ten great-grandchildren, a sister Donna Symons, and her special friend and caregiver, Lupe Mendez.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 29th at 10:30 AM at the Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church, 1490 Lincoln St, Kingsburg, CA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choic
February 13, 1918 – June 13, 2012
Frances Coffee Hauenstein was born to Ira and Ethel Coffee in Clayton, New Mexico, on February 13, 1918. Her family moved to Ivanhoe, California, when she was 8 years of age. She attended schools in Visalia and worked hard to help support herself and her family. She graduated from Fresno State with a teaching degree and a minor in physical education. She was an excellent athlete and eventually met and married Fred W. Hauenstein, who was captain of the University of Missouri track team.
Fred and Frances married in 1941 and enjoyed 64 years together before Fred’s death in 2006. The two of them began married life working at Lockheed Aircraft in Southern California during World War II. They returned to the San Joaquin Valley where Frances raised their sons Freddie, Jimmie, and Donnie while Fred drove trucks. In 1953 the couple opened a truck stop in Kingsburg where Frances fueled trucks while her husband continued driving to augment their finances. In 1954 they built a larger fuel station in Kingsburg and then opened a café on the site. Fred’s Truck Fuels and Café was a successful Kingsburg landmark on Highway 99 for four decades. Frances managed the café and many to this day remember the great chiliburgers she served.
As Fred and Frances succeeded, their willingness to help others became well-known. They gave freely of their resources, friendship, support and advice to stranded travelers, truckers and local residents alike. Her love of Kingsburg showed through her service as president of the Chamber of Commerce, the Senior Center and the Kingsburg Hospital Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Kingsburg Gun Club, the Northern California Outboard Association, the Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church, and tutored young readers after school.
Frances was well known in American Power Boat Association racing circles as a strong advocate for her husband and sons (and grandsons) as well as being the best and most prolific sandwich maker in the pits. Many a racer or mechanic would have gone hungry without her “tailgate deli.”
Frances was preceded in death by her husband Frederick W. Hauenstein, sons James F. and Donald E. Hauenstein, brother Findley Coffee, sister Lola Christie and one granddaughter, Melcena Hauenstein.
She is survived by her son Frederick M. (Linda) Hauenstein, Oshkosh, WI; her daughter-in-law Kathy Hauenstein, Santa Inez, CA; grandchildren Dan (Kristy) Hauenstein, San Carlos, CA; Mike (Kate) Hauenstein, Cedar Park, TX; Hilary (Brad) Carpenter, Gilbert, AZ; Raina Hauenstein, Oronogo, MO; Ira (Amanda) Hauenstein, Anchorage, AK; and Jack Hauenstein, Albemarle, NC. She is further survived by ten great-grandchildren, a sister Donna Symons, and her special friend and caregiver, Lupe Mendez.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 29th at 10:30 AM at the Kingsburg Evangelical Covenant Church, 1490 Lincoln St, Kingsburg, CA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choic