Alice F. Huss

Alice Florence (Burns) Huss, 87, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.  Alice was born to Daniel and Florence (Campbell) Burns on August 20, 1936. Alice grew up in Askeaton and Kaukauna. She was the youngest in a family of six children. Her siblings nicknamed her “Babe”. At the age of six, Alice lost her mother to cancer. Alice attended grade school at St. Mary’s in Kaukauna. She attended Kaukauna High School for her freshman year. For the next three years of high school, Alice lived with her Aunt Loretta in Milwaukee, where she graduated from Holy Angels Academy in 1954. 

Alice’s father Daniel was a railroad engineer. Alice was able to ride the train from Milwaukee to Kaukauna to visit family, friends, and her beau Dave on weekends.  After high school, Alice went to beauty school. She graduated and worked as a beautician at the Vogue in Appleton. She then decided to stay at home to raise her children. Alice designed a small area in her basement where she gave perms and haircuts to her family and friends.

Alice met David “Dave” Huss in 1950. They married on September 14, 1957, at St. Mary’s Church, Kaukauna. 

Alice loved music. She enjoyed listening to records and singing with the radio and CDs. Alice also played the piano starting with lessons as a young child. She would play favorite songs like “Elmer’s Tune” and other classics that the children could sing and dance along with.  Alice was also an amateur actress and performed with the Kaukauna Community Players for many years. She played a performer who sang “Steam Heat” in Pajama Game. In Bye Bye Birdie, she was Mae Peterson, a meddling mother who appeared on stage always wearing her fur coat. In South Pacific, she played Bloody Mary, a sassy native who sells souvenirs. Alice was in many other KCP shows. When Alice decided to “retire” from performing, she was named an Emeritus of the Kaukauna Community Players for her many years of service.

Alice was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she attended Mass and was a member of the Adult Choir for many years. She also taught CCD classes at St. Mary’s. 

When Alice’s children were all in school, she went to work at Fargo’s Furniture Store in Kaukauna. Alice was an excellent interior decorator who had many clients. A few years after she began working at Fargo’s, she began to wallpaper. Her first project was doing her family’s home. Alice was so talented, that she turned wallpapering into a second job.   Alice’s expertise as an interior decorator was called on when she helped spearhead the renovation of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She spent many hours planning and helping with the renovations of the church.

Alice was devoted to her belief in the power of prayer. She prayed the rosary regularly and often did Novenas to St. Jude for Special Intentions. She showed her dedication by fasting and ‘giving up’ two of her favorite foods, chocolate, and spaghetti for the nine days of the Novena. 

Alice was extremely proud of her 100% Irish Heritage She celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with all the fervor of a true Irish Woman. She had the “gift of gab” and never met a stranger. Alice even had an old upright piano that she painted green. Alice dreamed of someday going to the “old sod”. Her dream was finally realized when she traveled to Ireland not once but twice.

Alice also took great pleasure and spent significant time caring for the yard. People often remarked that the yard was so beautiful that it should be in Better Homes & Gardens.  It was important to Alice to make Christmas magical for her children. She decorated the house and made special baked foods. She wrapped presents so perfectly, her children believed they were actually wrapped by elves. 

Alice is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dave. Her four children, Kim (Jeff) Biesterveld of Petersburg, IN; Colleen (Randy) Haak of Appleton; Kevin (Suzanne) Huss of Minnetonka, MN and Chris (Amy) Huss of Buffalo, MN.  Alice is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Ryne (Dawn) Biesterveld, Evan (Brittney) Biesterveld, Erin Biesterveld; Alyssa (Pierre) Bani, Melanie Haak, Dan (Becky) Haak, Jason Haak; Tyler Huss, Adam (Toni) Huss, Eric (Ashley) Huss; Rachel, Dillon, Luke, Dexter Huss; and is further survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Ryken; Rhys; Victor and Margot; Lily, Jack, and Ella; Colton; Rowan, Leela and Sharla, as well as her loving sister Mary Dietzen. Others include sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon (Huss) Schuh and John Schuh; her dear friends: Lori Wretne, Dolores Van Epern, Dorothy “Dot” Mitchell, Mary Granger, Mary Kress, Jane Klozotsky, and Bob Klozotsky, as well as her many nieces and nephews who adored her.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Florence Burns. Dave’s parents: Clarence and Cecilia (Kiffe) Huss. Her siblings: John “Jack” and Ruth (Baker) Burns, Robert “Bob” and Virginia “Ginny” (Moore) Burns, Elizabeth “Betty” and Art Lauer, Daniel “Bud” and Rose Marie (Morrison) Burns, her brother-in-law Ronnie Dietzen and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Pat (Huss) Robach and William “Bill” Robach, and her nephews: Thomas Burns, Patrick Burns, Michael Burns, Daniel Dietzen.

Alice’s Celebration of Life/Funeral Liturgy will be on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:30 AM at St. Katharine Drexel Parish/St. Mary’s Site, 119 W Seventh Street, Kaukauna, with Fr. Luke Ferris officiating. A prelude of musical selections will begin at 11:15 AM.

Immediately following the Celebration of Life/Funeral Liturgy and in place of traditional visitation, family and friends are welcome to gather in the church cafeteria to celebrate and share fond memories and stories of Alice’s life. 

The family sends a special thank you to Colleen and Randy for their dedication to Mom. 

Alice’s family would also like to thank Silverstone Memory Care and Moments Hospice Care for their exceptional, compassionate, and loving care of Alice.

Mom we love you and we will miss you so very much. Your smile, your laughter, and your outgoing personality. Your singing around the house (sometimes making up your own words to songs and amusing the children). Seeing you cook your favorite meal of pasta. Your words of wisdom were given to us in your clever and unforgettable sayings.

We look forward to seeing you again one day. Kim, Colleen, Kevin, Chris

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Kaukauna Community Players:

Zach Eggert, Treasurer

 c/o Kaukauna Community Players

212 Taylor Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130

Please consider performing a random act of kindness in memory of Alice.

 ~An Irish Blessing~

 May the road rise to meet you. 

 May the wind be always at your back.

 May the sun shine warm upon your face, 

 And rains fall soft upon your fields.

 And until we meet again,

 May God hold you in the palm of his hand.