Born in Williams County located in northwest Ohio
Fred was born at home and lived his early years in Bryan, Ney, Kunkle and West Unity Ohio. He was the son of Ralph and Wilma Dietrich, hardworking practical people who struggled and overcame the hardships of the 1930s. They raised five children, who all excelled in their given fields of interest.
Fred was close in age to brothers Ronald and Richard, and they had many adventures growing up together. Fred’s siblings John and Darlene were born into the family a little later in life and we are blessed to still have them with us.
Fred graduated from Kunkle High School in 1949. As a student he took typing class so he could be with the girls, and it paid off. He met one named Mary Sitek and they married in 1951. Fred and Mary celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this year. After high school Fred went to work for the local telephone company, GTE, which he stayed with for his entire career. In 1952 Fred was up to be drafted for military duty and chose to join the Marine Corp, a decision he initially regretted but later came to cherish. Fred was honorably discharged, achieving the rank of Sargent E4. After his military service ended in 1954, he returned to his job at GTE. In his forties Fred took night classes in electrical engineering to help further his career and slowly but steadily progressed up the ranks, completing his career as the Engineering and Construction Manager over NW Ohio.
Fred loved big projects and was able to handle the heavy responsibilities of both work and home. He and Mary raised five children: Dave (Teresa), Sue (Mark), Steve (Polly), Ann (Tom) and Phil (Jane). Steven passed away in 2017 from a severe illness and is sorely missed. Fred will be similarly missed.
Fred has 14 grandchildren that he and Mary had a hand in raising. Vacations to the lake, school activities and of course birthday parties were part of Fred’s life and he loved his grandchildren dearly. In addition, he has 17 great grandchildren whom he loved to spend time with.
Fred was passionate about a variety of activities, especially his beloved garden, where he took great joy in growing everything from vegetables to popcorn for the family to enjoy. He was actively involved in the community through Kiwanis, participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program, and enjoyed games of shuffleboard, an obsession with genealogy and golf, as well as fishing outings.
Fred and Mary traveled extensively, visiting 48 states and exploring many European countries with family and friends. He had a remarkable gift for connecting with people, forming lasting friendships wherever life took him.
Fred and Mary were snowbirds enjoying their little coach in Clearwater Florida for the past 20 years. Florida was a place Dad looked forward to every year, not missing the Ohio winters in the least.
As a child, Fred cherished the time spent with his parents at Au Sable Lake, where they would camp and fish. Later, they rented cottages at the lake, and in 1970, with the help of his family, Fred built his first cottage there. This special place became a cherished retreat for Fred and Mary, filled with laughter, card games, dominoes, and, of course, fishing. It was a source of contentment and joy for them, surrounded by family and friends. Fred was blessed to have his sister Darlene as a neighbor on Au Sable Lake.
Fred lived a full life and, in the process, impacted many lives for the better.
Funeral Details
September 24th visitation 5-7 at Schoedinger Northwest Funeral Home
September 25th Funeral Mass at St. Agatha Catholic Church, Upper Arlington 10:00-11:00
Luncheon at MCL Cafeteria Upper Arlington 11:00-1:00
Final resting place ceremony held at Resurrection Cemetery following the luncheon
In lieu of flowers please consider donations to St. Jude Children Research Hospital or Ohio Health Hospice.
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