Denise Lynn Tucker of San Antonio, Texas, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 2:42 A.M. after a brief, unexpected illness. She was 70 years old.
Denise was the youngest of three children born to John and Marjorie Quast in Parma Heights, Ohio on February 4, 1954. She spent much of her childhood near Cleveland excelling in music, learning piano and singing for various church groups. In 1972, she attended Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, the same college as Sandy Patty, one of her favorite musicians.
By 1976 she had moved to Florida with her parents and met her future husband, John “Steve” Tucker, a young Airman. On March 17, 1979, they wed and the Air Force sent them to Washington D.C., shortly after where she worked as a secretary for U.S. Customs Headquarters. On March 9, 1981, Sara Kimberly was born. From there, they moved to Wichita Falls, Texas where she was an executive assistant at Sheppard Air Force Base for the commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing for the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program. Stacy Lynn was born on July 24, 1984, completing their family. Shortly after, the Air Force sent them to Lackland Air Force Base where Denise was a caregiver for several infants of teachers. In 1989, the family moved to Germany and spent the rest of Steve’s Air Force career between San Antonio, Texas, and Stuttgart, Germany, where the girls were primarily raised.
During the first assignment to Germany, Denise was a teacher’s aide at Panzer Elementary School, where both girls attended. When they moved back to San Antonio in 1993, Denise worked at Fox Run Elementary School as a classroom aid for Intellectually Disabled Children, even sewing for people in the community and her children. The Air Force sent them back to Stuttgart in 1996, by this time Denise had become a dedicated homemaker. Throughout their tenure in Germany, Denise became very involved at the International Baptist Church of Stuttgart, where she actively participated in the music program, assisting the music minister by playing piano and singing for services, even coordinating cantatas and other musicals throughout the 1990s to early 2000s. In 1998, the Air Force sent the family back to San Antonio, and in 1999 Steve retired. They decided that Steve's next chapter would be to accept a civilian government job in Germany. In 2000, she and her friend Jutta Renz co-authored a muffin cookbook, often providing her family with many treats to enjoy. In 2001, she helped coordinate humanitarian missions to Belarus by providing medical equipment and clothing to women and children in orphanages and shelters. After Stacy graduated in 2002, Denise spent most of her time traveling the world, visiting countries like Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, and Hungary. In 2011, they moved to Maryland for Steve’s job. They made their final move back to San Antonio, Texas in 2015 and have resided since.
Her grandchildren were born in 2005, 2008 and 2013, respectively. Being a grandmother was a role she relished, they were her greatest accomplishment. She spent many holidays and birthdays baking, crafting, and creating memories.
Denise is survived by her husband John Tucker, her two children, Sara Snell and Stacy Nielsen, and her three grandchildren, Arianna Chloe Snell, Sonora Lynn, and Charlize Elizabeth Nielsen. She is also survived by her sister Cheryl Kelber and brother Bill Quast.
She was preceded in death by her father, John Quast, and mother Marjorie Spencer Quast.
Denise will be cremated and has chosen not to have a formal funeral or memorial service, opting instead for an online memorial due to family and friends being all over the world from her travels. In lieu of flowers, Denise has requested donations be made towards her grandchildren’s college funds.
Donations may be sent to https://gofund.me/4d8526ff
The amount listed is simply a suggestion.
Her family would like to encourage anyone who feels so inclined to please post any pictures and anecdotes they may not have already heard. They thoroughly enjoy these snapshots of her life.
Her family would like to express their gratitude to the following who have helped provide intimate information and support:
Christus Santa Rosa, Westover Hills
Schertz Funeral Home, Lauren and Stephanie
Zsuzsa Toth
Cheryl Kelber
Bill Quast
Gloria Wilkins
Melody Davis
The Bell Family
Nathan, locksmith
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