Heidemarie Elisabeth Golchert Foulger

Heidemarie Elisabeth Golchert Foulger, born December 25th, 1942, in Berlin, Germany, passed away at her home in Elk Ridge, Utah on December 22nd, 2023, 3 days shy of her 81st birthday. Her parents were Gerda Meyer Golchert and Kurt Golchert of Berlin, Germany. She was previously married to John Cragun Foulger with whom she had four children; Cragun, Alexander, and Rachel. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Natasha. 

     Heidemarie was a force of nature in every sense. She did everything with passion. She taught with passion, for example she would wake up at 4 am to create fun and memorable lesson plans as well as the care she took in her home, the love she had for her garden and the way she kept her elegant appearance. She had a fierce love of nature, her dogs, music, cinema, politics, history, dear family and beloved friends. 

    Mom was educated in Berlin and, after graduating from the Gymnasium, receiving the American equivalent of an Associate's degree, she moved, by herself at 19 to become a book publisher in New York City.  She later moved to Portland, Oregon where she met LDS missionaries and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Shortly thereafter she moved to Provo, Utah where she attended Brigham Young University and met her future husband. In 1969 she graduated from the Y with a bachelor's in teaching and a double minor in German and History. 

    Her adventurous spirit took her, often traveling alone, to places like Moab, Utah, Skopelos, Greece and the North Sea as well as hundreds of places in between.  There are not many hikes or roads in American Fork canyon which she hasn't been on with her trusted furry companions. Hiking with her dogs was one of her greatest joys. On top of her many travels, and love of her puppies, she was an avid swimmer, and a voracious reader with an incredible intellect. 

    She was a high school German and World History teacher in the Alpine School District for 28 years, most of which were spent at Orem High School. While at Orem High she made lifelong friends, many of whom were students.  She was so proud of her students who continued to speak German, have a love of the culture, serve German speaking LDS missions, teach German and even 3 who became University Professors of German.  She was the recipient of many well-earned trophies from the state German competitions held at BYU every year and was recognized as German teacher of the year. 

    By far, her greatest accomplishment and the one we, as her children, deeply feel and will always appreciate is that she successfully raised three children and provided them with a love of reading and education, a desire to see and understand the world, an appreciation of music and a sense of self and purpose, all of which was done as a single mom on a teacher's salary. 

    Her survivors include Cragun and Jeanette Foulger of South Jordan, Utah, Alexander and Cindy Foulger of Sequim, Washington and Rachel and Richard Cook of Springville, Utah. Her grandchildren are Kaylee, Dakota, Sarah, Austin and Thomas.