Robert "Fred" L. Fredrick Obituary (1939 - 2009)

“Fred” Robert Louis Fredrick died peacefully at his home on August 28, 2009 succumbing to cancer after an intense three month illness. Robert (known to many, including his wife, as “Fred”) was born on June 26, 1939, to Herman Fredrick and Katherine Batke Fredrick in St. Joseph, Michigan, the second of their three children. He attended Lutheran School through the eighth grade and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1957. Robert joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served two separate enlistments in the Western Pacific earning Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam. Robert married Ruth LaRee Erickson on May 1, 1964, in Seattle, Washington. They lived for two years in Honolulu, Hawaii. He left the Navy in 1966 and the family moved to Seattle. Robert finished his education there and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business, specializing in Finance, from the University of Washington in 1968. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, professional business fraternity. After graduation, he worked at Pacific National Bank of Seattle in the Trust Department. Later, he joined the Tandy Corporation at Radio Shack. He rose to District Manager and accepted a transfer in 1975 to Salt Lake City, Utah where he lived the remainder of his life. His career encompassed retail sales, sales management, service management, delivery services, and manufacturing. He solely owned and headed two successful small businesses and was managing partner in a third. He acted as financial consultant to two startup companies. While employed by the U.S. Postal Service, he was actively involved with Local 332 of the Mail Handlers Union. Raised in the Lutheran faith, he was later baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 2000. He was an accomplished golfer, who used his 6’5” frame to drive a mile off the tee. He played basketball as the center on his youth teams, many times as captain, and remained an avid fan throughout his life. March Madness and the NBA Finals were mandatory viewing. He also enjoyed tennis, and was a dedicated football fan. Survived by his wife, Ruth; three children and their spouses,--Blane Scott and Joyce Fredrick, Alison Christine and Jeff Peterson, and Stephanie LaRee Brown; seven grandsons and six granddaughters--Jason, Megan, Kyle, Emma, Nate, and Abigail Fredrick, Kirsten, Rob, and Eric Peterson, John Barrett, Austin, Erin, and Emily Brown. Also survived by older brother and his wife, Donald W. and Barbara Fredrick, of Ypsilanti, Michigan; and younger sister and her husband, Jeanne and Robert Hartman, of Stevensville, Michigan, two nieces, Heidi and Hope, and four nephews, David, Mark, Chad, and Drew. His Godmother, Anna Batke Pesko, also survives. Fred loved Ruth’s five sisters and their families, and was a caring and helpful son-in-law to her mother, Nina Erickson. Funeral services will be at high noon on Thursday, September 3, 2009, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, South Cottonwood Chevy Chase Ward chapel, 5235 South Wesley Road (1125 East). Friends and loved ones may arrive after 11:00 a.m. for viewing and hugging prior to the start of the service. Burial will be at Murray City Cemetery, 5490 South Vine Street. Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary is overseeing the arrangements. Ruth wishes to publicly thank Taylor A. Jeppson, M.D. for all he has done during more than thirty years as our family physician. He has been a blessing in our lives. The family greatly appreciates the expert care and gentle attention given to Robert and his family by many dear representatives from Inspiration Hospice. We came to love you all.