Richard M. Fredrick

Richard M. Fredrick, 93, of Grand Island, died on Thursday, September 22, 2022, surrounded by his loving family, at St. John's - Good Samaritan Society in Kearney, Nebraska.

A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 7, 2022 at St. Libory Catholic Church – 505 Spruce Street, St. Libory, Nebraska.  Inurnment will be in the Warsaw Cemetery in St. Paul.  Father Sid Bruggeman will be presiding.

Visitation will be from 5-7 P.M. on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at St. Libory Catholic Church in St. Libory. A rosary will follow at 7:00 P.M. at the church.

Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Richard was born in 1929 to Edward and Kathryn (Budzinski) Fredrick in Sherman County, Nebraska.  This is the man that’s known to have 2 birthdays, March 13th & May 13th, which meant he celebrated twice!  He grew up in Sherman County, attending District 22 and District 56 country schools.  He entered the United States Marines on November 15, 1951 and was honorably discharged on November 4, 1953, serving during the Korean War.  Richard was united in marriage to Rosemary Ward on August 30, 1954 in Concordia, Kansas.  Together, the couple raised 3 sons, Larry, Dan, & Tim.  The couple enjoyed polka music, camping, and fishing by the river. Richard loved the outdoors, and you could find him gardening, cutting wood, tinkering on vehicles, riding tractors to do his field and garden work, and three-wheeling. He took pride and joy of his 2 Oliver Tractors. He enjoyed growing his vegetables on the farm, along with raising cows and pigs, and taking care of his fur-friends.  He enjoyed playing scratch cards as well as spending time at casinos with his family and buddies.

Richard was a member of the St. Libory Catholic Church, the Palmer American Legion Club & VFW.

He was employed at the Sugar Beet Plant in Grand Island for many years.  He drove truck for Meyer’s Farm Equipment, worked for Palmer Implement, and helped various farmers over the years.  He spent a lot of time helping the Santin’s and the Kucera’s which he truly enjoyed.  He also worked at the Cornhusker Ammunition Plant for 13 years.

Those left to cherish his memory include his sons & daughters-in-law, Larry & Sabrije Fredrick of Stutgart, Germany, Dan & Dana Fredrick of Grand Island, Tim & Lori Fredrick of Palmer;  grandchildren & their spouses, Alicia & Jeff Bachtel of Laramie, WY, Annabell & Jesse Fredrick of Grove Town, GA, Richie Fredrick of Stutgart, Germany, Jessica & Tim Schleicher of Palmer, Travis & Ashley Fredrick of Grand Island, Jocelyn & Dominick Helgoth of St. Libory; 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joyce Ward of St. Paul; numerous nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosemary Annabell Fredrick; brother & and sister-in-law, Clarence & Irene  Fredrick; sisters and brother-in-law, Irene & Leonard Grabowski, and Alice Wilhelmi; mother-in-law & father-in-law, Harold & Jane Ward.