Lt. Col. William E. Fedro "Bill" Usaf (Ret).

SEPTEMBER 16, 1925 – NOVEMBER 24, 2019

William Edward Fedro was born on September 16, 1925, a gift of God to his parents, William and Rose (Picray) Fedro. He was received into the Kingdom of God through Holy Baptism on October 11, 1925 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines on June 10, 1943. He entered the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant on October 8, 1948. He served as a jet pilot in the Korean War and throughout his subsequent Air Force career. Upon his return from Korea he returned to college, graduating from Iowa State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture. He received a Master of Architecture degree from Oklahoma State University in 1963. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.), licensed as an architect in Nebraska and Colorado. He retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel on December 1, 1968.

He married Ruby Marie Boe on November 20, 1949 at Selfridge Air Force Base in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Barbara, Robert, Thomas, and Susan. After being married at Selfridge AFB, there were frequent moves to other bases and cities: Tyndall AFB, Panama City, FL; Bill, to South Korea (on combat tour); F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY; O’Hare AFB, Chicago, IL; Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH; Iowa State University, Ames, IA; three tours with Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE; Zaragoza AFB, Zaragoza, Spain; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; and the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK. Upon his retirement from the Air Force he and Ruby moved their family to Lakewood, Colorado in 1969 where Bill became the Assistant City Planning Engineer for Jefferson County in Golden, Colorado. In that capacity he garnered special appreciation for ensuring that several green spaces were set aside and became parks rather than buildings. Following his tenure with Jefferson County, Bill embarked on a fulfilling career teaching Architectural Drafting at Community College of Denver and at Warren Tech. He enjoyed mentoring and encouraging young people to do and be their best, always finding ways to share with them the importance of a relationship with the Lord.

The Lord allowed Bill to fulfill all four of his childhood dreams…those of becoming an Air Force pilot, an architect, a teacher, and that of owning his own airplane. He was a Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force (CAF…formerly “Confederate Air Force”). He spent many wonderful hours with friends at Air Power West, flying the “old planes” (as well as his own Cessna, “Little Bird”), often performing at air shows. He was proud to have been one of the first pilots invited to land at the newly constructed Denver International Airport prior to its opening, as part of a Fly-in sponsored by the City of Denver in September 1994.

The Lord blessed Bill with the gift of music and he and Ruby were both excellent organists. The Fedro home was always filled with music. Their faith life was of utmost importance and whenever they moved, Bill and Ruby would quickly find and become involved in a new church home. He had a beautiful tenor voice which he used to glorify the Lord, often serving as a soloist in the many church choirs to which he belonged. Through the years it was a tradition for him to sing “O Holy Night” at the Christmas Eve service, accompanied by Ruby at the organ. Bill served his church in multiple ways during his lifetime including being a church elder, congregational president, and Sunday school superintendent. He served as a teacher of Bible History for 6th grade confirmation students for many years. He and Ruby often entertained at nursing homes, with Ruby on the organ and Bill on the accordion. He was a gifted artist and his paintings and drawings grace the walls of many family members and friends. Bill was a 50+ year member of the Gideons International organization. He spent many hours at recruiting centers handing out Gideon New Testaments and giving words of encouragement to those newly enlisted in the military. Bill spent the last 14 years enjoying his life at the Brookdale Meridian where he loved entertaining friends, neighbors, and the Brookdale community with singing and “organ concerts” on a weekly basis.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Ruby. Those who remain to grieve his loss and rejoice in his life are: Children and spouses, Barb and The Rev. Tim Gierke of Fremont, NE; Bob and Maggie Fedro of Midland, TX; Tom and Kerry Fedro of Irvine, CA; Lt. Col. Sue Fedro, USAF, NC Ret. of Las Vegas, NV; Grandchildren, Kristin (Gierke) Knott and husband, Joel of Omaha, NE; Jeremy Gierke and wife, Mindy of Omaha, NE; Jacob Fedro and wife, Simone of Phoenix, AZ; Matt Fedro of Denver, CO; Mark and Jack Fedro of Irvine, CA; and Barbara Fedro of Houston, TX; Great-Grandchildren, Harper, Ian, and Logan Knott; Davina Whitaker, Miah and Cadence Gierke, all of Omaha, NE; Brother, Larry C. Fedro of Pembroke Pines, FL; Nephews, Michael Lichtwardt (Lisa) of Havre De Grace, MD and Mark Lichtwardt (Ranae) of Highlands Ranch, CO. He will be missed by special friend, Dolores Hughes and her daughter, Patty Foote.

Bill was called out of this life into eternal life as a gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, on Christ the King Sunday, November 24, 2019, at the age of 94 years, 2 months and 8 days, and he has received the consummation of his Baptism, the crown of eternal life. His funeral will be held on January 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Colorado. His body will be lovingly laid to rest in God's earth at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado to await in peace the day of the Resurrection. This is the earthly record of William Edward Fedro. The heavenly record reads, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labors." "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Jesus lives! And now is death but the gate of life immortal;

This shall calm my trembling breath when I pass its gloomy portal.

Faith shall cry, as fails each sense: "Jesus is my confidence!"