Roger Frederick Fricke
February 17, 1924 — September 14, 2012
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Roger Frederick Fricke
Roger Frederick Fricke
Roger F. Fricke (88), beloved and devoted husband of Marian (Jacques) Fricke, died on September 14, 2012, of prostate cancer. He was born early in the morning of Sunday, February 17, 1924 in the Lutheran Church (literally) in Parma, MO, where his father served as Pastor and his mother, Lillian
(Glabe) Fricke was organist. The family lived on the second floor of this modest structure. The sermon on that Sunday was shortened and only two stanzas of each hymn were sung. So began first-son Roger's lifelong commitment to the Christian church.
In May of 1924 the family moved to Krushel, MN and then in 1927 to Arlington Heights, IL, where Pastor Fricke served a large congregation for the next 20 years. Roger attended and gratuated from St. Peter Lutheran School in 1938. During this time Roger sold and delivered newspapers and
racing forms at a local race track in order to provide a source of income during the Depression. He attended the local high school and worked with an electrician in Chicago.
In 1942, Roger entered Valparaiso University on a scholarship to study electrical engineering. At the same time, he enlisted in the Army Reserve. He was called to active duty in 1943, and reported for training at Fort Riley, KS. In September, 1943, he was transferred to the University of Nebraska.
In April of 1944, in preparation for the invasion of Western Europe, advanced Army Programs for officers and Army flying cadets were shut down and the personnel transferred to newly organized infantry divisions. Despite wearing glasses, Roger excelled in marksmanship. He set sail for Europe in October, 1944, as an anti-tank gunner. A large portion of his Division, in an accompanying ship, was lost en route on Christmas Eve in the torpedoing of the troopship
Leopoldville off Cherbourg, France. Roger served in combat in France and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
In May of 1945 the war in Europe was won and Roger's outfit was preparing to sail from Marseille, France to invade Japan. Because of the atomic bomb, that war ended and Roger began the long 8 month wait for a ship home. He kept busy by studying at the University of Vienna, and later at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Here he first tried out skiing, which he happily pursued through his entire adult life.
In April, 1946, he returned to Valparaiso University under the GI Bill and completed a BA in Business Administration. While in a class in Shakespeare, he met Marian Jacques, and they were married by his dad Pastor Fricke on December 27, 1947, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, MI.
That year Roger transferred to Purdue University and obtained a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering and taught undergraduate classes. In 1950 he accepted an offer from Westinghouse Electric Corporation and moved to Lima, OH to design electric motors. The home in Lima, dubbed "The Ponderosa," eventually became an outdoorsy place of horseback riding, swimming, and various agricultural activities. The seven grandchildren and their parents returned "home" at least three times a year. The last residence (designed by Uncle Eric) comfortably bedded the entire crew of fifteen.
Roger had a long career with Westinghouse from 1950 through 1982, performing engineering, marketing and executive assignments. Most enjoyable, he was appointed Engineering Manager of the Small Motor Division and then went on to establish and become President and General Manager of Westinghouse's first maquiladora operation in Jaurez, Mexico (Motores Electrical de Juarez), a 300 employee company. Naturally he learned to speak Spanish.
When he became eligible for retirement, Roger chose to take it easy. During the next 20 years he worked part time as a consultant on motor investments in South America and China, brushed up on his golf, developed the lakefront subdivision that they owned near Lima, built 2 lakes, and expanded his music experience with Barbershop singing. In 2000, Marian and Roger moved once more--to New Hampshire to be closer to daughter Pat and into a condo at the Country Club. This penchant for the links had an early start. When he was five, Roger's dad broke his wooden-shafted 2 iron. His dad reconstructed the club to just the right length for his son. Seventeen years later Roger played on the Valparaiso University golf team.
Roger was devoted to golf for more than six decades, having caddied in the 30's. He loved music, played the trumpet and ukelele, and enjoyed singing in barbershop groups and in church. At his Ponderosa he loved survying, building lakes, dams and decks, taking horse sleigh rides, driving his tractor and giving Indian tours of the property, and most of all riding and caring for the horses, Hoss, Ben and Little Joe and dog Heidi.
It is not surprising that Roger and his loving wife continued serving the Lord during their long marriage. Each night, right after dinner, the family held daily devotions. They were very active in the seven Christian churches where they held memberships. But they firmly believed, to the very end, that their tickets to heaven were not awarded on what they had achieved, but rather on what they had believed--that Jesus was their way to heaven.
Roger leaves behind a loving wife Marian, a younger sister, Lois (Harland) Oehme of Chatham, IL, and younger brother Dr. James (Lee) Fricke of West Salem, WI; daughters, Sandra (Gary) Reidenbach of Franklin, WI, Patricia (Eric) Palson of Contoocook, NH, and Janet Flores of The Woodlands, TX. He was most proud of his seven grandchildren. They are as follows: Todd Reidenbach, Lisa Reidenbach, Molly Palson, Nathan Palson, Alex Palson, Amy Flores and Stephanie Flores. Preceded in death by a son Robert who died in infancy and his older sister Harriet of Madison, WI.
The viewing will be at 12:30PM on Thursday September 20, 2012 at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 172 King Street, Boscawen, NH, 03303, Ph. 603-796-2528. Services will begin at 1:30PM at the Phaneuf Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be immediately following at the New Hampshire State
Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date as decided by the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church, 82 King Hill Road, New London 03257 (www.kcpcnlnh.com) or The Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141
(www.lhmgift.org).
Roger F. Fricke (88), beloved and devoted husband of Marian (Jacques) Fricke, died on September 14, 2012, of prostate cancer. He was born early in the morning of Sunday, February 17, 1924 in the Lutheran Church (literally) in Parma, MO, where his father served as Pastor and his mother, Lillian
(Glabe) Fricke was organist. The family lived on the second floor of this modest structure. The sermon on that Sunday was shortened and only two stanzas of each hymn were sung. So began first-son Roger's lifelong commitment to the Christian church.
In May of 1924 the family moved to Krushel, MN and then in 1927 to Arlington Heights, IL, where Pastor Fricke served a large congregation for the next 20 years. Roger attended and gratuated from St. Peter Lutheran School in 1938. During this time Roger sold and delivered newspapers and
racing forms at a local race track in order to provide a source of income during the Depression. He attended the local high school and worked with an electrician in Chicago.
In 1942, Roger entered Valparaiso University on a scholarship to study electrical engineering. At the same time, he enlisted in the Army Reserve. He was called to active duty in 1943, and reported for training at Fort Riley, KS. In September, 1943, he was transferred to the University of Nebraska.
In April of 1944, in preparation for the invasion of Western Europe, advanced Army Programs for officers and Army flying cadets were shut down and the personnel transferred to newly organized infantry divisions. Despite wearing glasses, Roger excelled in marksmanship. He set sail for Europe in October, 1944, as an anti-tank gunner. A large portion of his Division, in an accompanying ship, was lost en route on Christmas Eve in the torpedoing of the troopship
Leopoldville off Cherbourg, France. Roger served in combat in France and Germany, including the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
In May of 1945 the war in Europe was won and Roger's outfit was preparing to sail from Marseille, France to invade Japan. Because of the atomic bomb, that war ended and Roger began the long 8 month wait for a ship home. He kept busy by studying at the University of Vienna, and later at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Here he first tried out skiing, which he happily pursued through his entire adult life.
In April, 1946, he returned to Valparaiso University under the GI Bill and completed a BA in Business Administration. While in a class in Shakespeare, he met Marian Jacques, and they were married by his dad Pastor Fricke on December 27, 1947, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, MI.
That year Roger transferred to Purdue University and obtained a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering and taught undergraduate classes. In 1950 he accepted an offer from Westinghouse Electric Corporation and moved to Lima, OH to design electric motors. The home in Lima, dubbed "The Ponderosa," eventually became an outdoorsy place of horseback riding, swimming, and various agricultural activities. The seven grandchildren and their parents returned "home" at least three times a year. The last residence (designed by Uncle Eric) comfortably bedded the entire crew of fifteen.
Roger had a long career with Westinghouse from 1950 through 1982, performing engineering, marketing and executive assignments. Most enjoyable, he was appointed Engineering Manager of the Small Motor Division and then went on to establish and become President and General Manager of Westinghouse's first maquiladora operation in Jaurez, Mexico (Motores Electrical de Juarez), a 300 employee company. Naturally he learned to speak Spanish.
When he became eligible for retirement, Roger chose to take it easy. During the next 20 years he worked part time as a consultant on motor investments in South America and China, brushed up on his golf, developed the lakefront subdivision that they owned near Lima, built 2 lakes, and expanded his music experience with Barbershop singing. In 2000, Marian and Roger moved once more--to New Hampshire to be closer to daughter Pat and into a condo at the Country Club. This penchant for the links had an early start. When he was five, Roger's dad broke his wooden-shafted 2 iron. His dad reconstructed the club to just the right length for his son. Seventeen years later Roger played on the Valparaiso University golf team.
Roger was devoted to golf for more than six decades, having caddied in the 30's. He loved music, played the trumpet and ukelele, and enjoyed singing in barbershop groups and in church. At his Ponderosa he loved survying, building lakes, dams and decks, taking horse sleigh rides, driving his tractor and giving Indian tours of the property, and most of all riding and caring for the horses, Hoss, Ben and Little Joe and dog Heidi.
It is not surprising that Roger and his loving wife continued serving the Lord during their long marriage. Each night, right after dinner, the family held daily devotions. They were very active in the seven Christian churches where they held memberships. But they firmly believed, to the very end, that their tickets to heaven were not awarded on what they had achieved, but rather on what they had believed--that Jesus was their way to heaven.
Roger leaves behind a loving wife Marian, a younger sister, Lois (Harland) Oehme of Chatham, IL, and younger brother Dr. James (Lee) Fricke of West Salem, WI; daughters, Sandra (Gary) Reidenbach of Franklin, WI, Patricia (Eric) Palson of Contoocook, NH, and Janet Flores of The Woodlands, TX. He was most proud of his seven grandchildren. They are as follows: Todd Reidenbach, Lisa Reidenbach, Molly Palson, Nathan Palson, Alex Palson, Amy Flores and Stephanie Flores. Preceded in death by a son Robert who died in infancy and his older sister Harriet of Madison, WI.
The viewing will be at 12:30PM on Thursday September 20, 2012 at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 172 King Street, Boscawen, NH, 03303, Ph. 603-796-2528. Services will begin at 1:30PM at the Phaneuf Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be immediately following at the New Hampshire State
Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date as decided by the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church, 82 King Hill Road, New London 03257 (www.kcpcnlnh.com) or The Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141
(www.lhmgift.org).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roger Frederick Fricke, please visit our flower store.
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