Frederick W. Brodbeck

Mr. Brodbeck, son of the late Friedrich and Alvera Brodbeck (Dutzow, MO) was born on December 19, 1934 in St. Louis, MO. He married Lovis G. Smith in Kirkwood, MO on December 16, 1961 and recently celebrated 62 years of marriage.

Fred was a man of integrity, friendly, patient, intelligent, hard-working, and loved to give to others. When you were with him, he listened and you knew he cared. He also appreciated a joke and liked to have fun.

Fred fondly recalled growing up on Kennerly Road and attending Concord Grade School from which he graduated in 1948. He graduated from Principia High School in 1952. After high school Fred earned attended Washington University and earned his degree in mechanical engineering. During this time, he was also in the Air Force ROTC and received his pilot’s license. With a love of airplanes, he began his career at McDonnell Aircraft Corp in 1957. He worked at McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing, for 37 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of the programs he worked on included the Gemini Space program, F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, Harrier and other programs he couldn’t talk about. In 1988, his daughter, Amy, and later his son-in-law, Mark, worked there too and they all enjoyed carpooling together for a few years. Fred finished his career at McDonnell Douglas as a Branch Manager in the Physics Lab. During his time there he enjoyed working with some of the smartest people he ever met along with some “hamburgers”. Fred was also a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Fred believed in community involvement. He was a Scout Master for Principia’s Troop 554 for seven years achieving his Wood Badge credential in leadership. During his seven years he helped numerous scouts realize their potential as Eagle Scouts. He was jubilant when his son Steve achieved his Eagle Scout.

Fred actively served on the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board from 1969-1976. He was instrumental in establishing Queeny, Creve Coeur Lake, Faust, Lone Elk, Greensfelder, Suson and other foundational County Parks and served as Chairman his last few years. When Six Flags in Eureka was developed and needed to get power through Greensfelder Park, Fred was left as the last man standing to negotiate with Union Electric due to unusual circumstances. He stuck to his guns and insisted on burying the power lines underground in a serpentine path instead of high-tension wires and eventually prevailed. Today the underground solution is the beautiful bridal path trail in this park.

He also served on the St. Louis County Planning Commission from 1976-1979 earning the reputation of strictly zoning residential developments on 1-acre lots to retain green space.

Upon retirement in 1993, Fred became actively involved in the Chamber of Commerce in Marthasville, MO as he and his wife, Lovis, moved to Vogelsang Farm which has been in the family since 1971. Fred enjoyed a wonderful retirement and loved the Marthasville community, working on the family farm, enjoying five grandchildren, world travel with Lovis, 102 RV trips including the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Oregon Trail, and being a key member of the Christian Science Society in Washington, MO. He was proud to be an American and realized the importance of giving back to the community he lived in.

Fred Brodbeck is survived by his wife of 62 years Lovis of Marthasville, MO, son Steve (Monnie) Brodbeck of St. Louis County, MO, daughter Amy (Mark) Anderson of Town and Country, MO, his brother Ronald Brodbeck of Brady, TX, five grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many other relatives.

A private service was held at the family farm.

The family gratefully requests that any donations in Fred’s honor be made to one of the following:

1. Christian Science Society of Washington, MO (www.cswashingtonmo.com)

2. Marthasville Area Chamber of Commerce (www.marthasvillemochamber.org)

3. A Tree Fund to plant trees on Vogelsang Farm in memory of Fred. Throughout his life he loved and planted trees. Please send a check made out to Amy Anderson to: Lovis, Steve and Amy, Vogelsang Farm, 17039 Legion Hall Road, Marthasville, MO 63357 or Venmo Amy Anderson at @Amy-Anderson-168 (0790 - last 4 digits of cell to verify).