Alice “Nadine” (Fuge) West, 84, of Mansfield, Missouri, passed away after a short illness on July 4, 2023. She came full circle as she passed surrounded by her loving cats and family members on the same property where she was born on October 26, 1938.
Nadine’s parents, Ralph and Eunice (Letsinger) Fuge raised her on the family farm. At an early age, she learned to care for animals and pets, which became a significant part of her life.
She attended Mansfield High School where she graduated with honors as the Valedictorian of her class in 1957. She earned a scholarship to Southwest Missouri State University and attended for a time before transitioning into the workplace.
Nadine was employed at Coley’s Place as a waitress, Lily Tulip as a factory worker, and Producer’s Creamery as an office worker. She also owned her own business hanging wallpaper and painting with numerous customers in the Springfield, Missouri area. Her final employment was with the United States Postal Service where she was a rural mail carrier until her retirement.
She married her husband, Glen West, in 1959. They divorced in 1989 but decided to remarry in 2017. She resided with him in Phillipsburg, Missouri, until moving back to Mansfield in 2020.
Her parents and husband, Glen, preceded Nadine. She is survived by her brother, John Fuge (Springfield), sister, Jean Raney (Springfield), brother, Marion Fuge, (Mansfield), her nieces, Rhonda Haynes (Bruner), Jennifer Van Matre (Springfield), and nephews, Jeffrey Fuge (Springfield), Randal Fuge (St. Louis), and Michael Fuge (Mansfield), and seven great-nieces and nephews and one great-great-niece.
Nadine was a great lover of all animals. She was known to feed deer, bees, and birds during her lifetime. She rescued numerous cats and dogs that had been abandoned. Her kindness was boundless. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to your nearest animal shelter or organization that cares for animals.
Please join the family in a celebration of her life at the Mansfield Community Center in Mansfield, Missouri on July 22, 2023 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Cremation was under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mansfield.
205 N. Missouri Ave.
Mansfield, MO 65704
