I had mentioned in a post last week that 2013 started off on a sad note for the Fredricksen family. Last Friday night we said goodbye to my dad's cousin Steve. It was a very nice evening of remembering all the good times we spent with Steve. I have lots of memories of wandering around gun shows, going shooting and spending time at the farm. If you're from the area and saw Steve's obituary, you might have noticed that Fredricksen is spelled Fredrickson. One of my grandpa's brothers, Earl, decided to change the spelling because of all the misspellings that occur. This just makes it harder for those of us that kept the Danish "sen"!
Today we are saying goodbye to another cousin, Mike. I did not know Mike personally, but our family is close to his parents David and Mary. It was very sudden that Mike passed away, and I'm praying and hoping that his family is able to find comfort in the 44 years they got to spend with Mike.
I posted both Mike and Steve's obituaries if you'd like to see a glimpse of who they were.
Michael was born on Sept. 29, 1968 in Wilmington, Ohio. The family returned to Rochester in 1969. Following graduation from Rochester Mayo High School in June of 1987, he joined the Minnesota National Guard. He was also a graduate of Northwestern University (Roseville).
Mike served in the military for over 25 years, including a tour of duty in Iraq from 2004 to 2006. He was serving with the U.S. Army Reserves at the time of his death. Michael was the owner of Something Fishy, a marine aquatics business, in Richfield and Apple Valley. He enjoyed playing guitar, fishing, missionary work, classic cars, and flying as a private pilot.
He is survived by his parents, Mary and Dave Fredricksen; a brother James (Rachelle); a niece Hannah; a nephew Drew, all of Rochester, and a brother Brian, of Shoreview. His grandmother, Mary Meyers Fredricksen, of Rochester, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins also survive.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents and his paternal grandfather and his step grandfather in addition to a cousin.
A funeral service for Michael will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the chapel. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens with military honors.
Steven E. Fredrickson, 68, of Rochester, died at home Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013.
He was born in Rochester Jan. 5, 1944, to Doris (nee Schleusner) and Earl Fredrickson. Steven graduated from John Marshall High School in 1961, he then enlisted in the Air Force from 1962-1966 and married Nancy J. Fredrickson (nee Hagerty) in 1967.
He worked as a union plumber, upon retirement he worked part-time as a city plumbing inspector.
Steve is survived by his mother, Doris Hawkins; one brother, Richard Fredrickson; one sister, Connie Engle (Lee); one daughter, Anne Fredrickson and one son, Robert Fredrickson both of St. Paul; and his ex-spouse, Nancy Fredrickson.
A memorial gathering will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home, 1119 11 1/2 St. S.E., in Rochester.
In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to the American Heart Association or Twin Cities Public Television.
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