Thank you, Dok
Klaus-Jürgen Helmut Füchsel May 5, 1960 - May 13, 2024
K
laus-Jürgen Helmut Füchsel of Warrenton — known to many as “Dok Klaus” — passed away peacefully at home with his family last month after a three and half year battle with brain cancer. In his 22 years at the helm of Dok Klaus Computer Care, Klaus became Warrenton’s Help Desk. We depend on technology — and much of the community depended on Klaus to manage and mend its tech. The story behind the familiar name and face is the quintessential American story which, as so many do, began across an ocean. It’s an inspiring tale of inventiveness and dedication. Klaus was born in Berlin in 1960 to Heinz Füchsel and Christa Mühl (nee Molkenthin) and studied math and computer science in college. As the new millennium approached, Klaus moved to the United States in 1999 with his wife Virginia and their three daughters to work on a project for electronics gi-
In lieu of flowers
the family requests that those who knew Klaus share a memory online at moserfuneralhome.com. Donations in his name can also be made to the nonprofit Hospice of the Piedmont.
ant Siemens. It was the perfect opportunity for a passionate computer programmer like Klaus: His extensive training, college work and worldwide experience had paid off. After spending two years in New Jersey working for Siemens, his project ended — and by then the world had changed. Klaus was left to find new work in a post-September 11 economy. When he moved to Warrenton where his wife’s parents lived, Klaus thought that finding work with his skilled background wouldn’t be a problem. But fresh in the aftermath of 9/11, the requirements of the government and its contractors proved otherwise. Given his citizenship status in 2001, it was challenging to find a job. Thankfully, the government contracting world’s loss was his new community’s gain. Klaus became an entrepreneur and started his own business. Dok Klaus Computer Care was born. He began repairing computers, removing viruses, recovering data, and providing various other technology help — invaluable services in our digital world. Running a good business including giving back: Klaus taught locally, donated laptops to schools and offered internships. Fast forward to 2020. Like for any business, the pandemic was challenging, for sure. But Klaus and his staff navigated this world turned upside down and continued to serve their customers. Then came the biggest challenge of all: In
Doc Klaus Computer Care continues to serve the community
With its namesake now providing expert guidance from above, the business Klaus built endures. The family-led team provides the Northern Piedmont region with personalized computer care, network engineering, web development, and custom solutions for businesses and homeowners.
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fall 2020, Klaus suffered a seizure. He was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Appropriately, technology — coupled with Klaus’s good spirits — allowed him to continue helping clients. He wore The Optune, a cap that creates a magnetic field which hinders destructive DNA from multiplying. “I’m thankful for technology,” Klaus said in 2022. “Maybe the technology is paying me back by keeping me alive.” It was, and so was Klaus’s lifelong determination: “One motto my father imprinted on my character from the beginning was ‘All things you do, do them with might; things done by half are never right.’” Klaus is survived by his loving wife Virginia Palmer-Füchsel, his sister Angelika Füchsel, daughters Silvia Füchsel, Melanie Millman (partner Adam), and Martha le Roux (partner Gert), granddaughter Liela le Roux, mother-in-law Martha Palmer, and 11 nieces and nephews. A couple years ago, an article in this magazine about Klaus was headlined “Everybody Knows Dok”. Like so many he knew and helped throughout the community, we’re so glad we did. L
dokklaus.com solutions@dokklaus.com (540) 428-2376 335 Waterloo St., Warrenton