Chester Fredericks

CHESTER FREDERICKS

Belle Plaine

Chester "Fred" Fredericks, 91, of Belle Plaine, passed away peacefully Sept. 12, 2014, after a short illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, by Deacon Joe Behounek.

Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, with military rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Hrabak Funeral Home, with a Scripture service at 6:30 p.m.

Fred was born Oct. 14, 1922, to Mary and Bruno Frydrych, in the "Back of the Yards" Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago.

He was a proud member of "The Greatest Generation" and overcame adversity and poverty while growing up during the Depression, like so many others during that time.

He served his country during World War II in the Army, fighting in the Pacific Theater, and then returned home to attend trade school on the GI Bill.

He became a master plasterer and proud trade union member. Some of the restoration work he did still survives in many downtown Chicago buildings and in the historic mansions of Chicago's Beverly area. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1956 and spent 30 years serving the city in a job that he loved.

He married his sweetheart, Peg, in 1946 and together they raised four children on Chicago's South Side.

He is survived by his children, Paul (Connie) of Plainfield, Ill., Mike (Kathy) of Hartwick, Sue Martin of Chelsea and Cindy (Ray) Tessmer of Pine Island, Fla. He also leaves behind 10 beloved grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Also surviving him are his dear sisters, Lottie Dybas and Mary Curler of Oak Lawn, Ill.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Peg, in 2009; an infant son, Mark; and his siblings, Phil, Ted, Mike and Helen.

Fred was blessed with a creative and curious mind, and he passed that gift on to his children and grandchildren. He was a proud holder of four U.S. patents and loved to talk about them. He also was a prolific writer of Letters to the Editor over the years to local newspapers, offering comments on a wide range of subjects that readers found both interesting and amusing.

His son, Mike, was able to accompany him on an Eastern Iowa Honor Flight in May 2013 and it was special time for both of them.

He greatly missed his "Peggy" when she passed away in 2009, and now they are together again.

The family wishes to thank St. Luke's Hospice and the Belle Plaine Nursing and Rehab Center for the care they gave to Fred.

Memorials may be directed to the Belle Plaine Ambulance.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. hrabakfuneral home.com under "obituaries."