Frederick Stohr

With a life that spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want, Frederick Stohr lived a life of purpose while holding his loved ones near. He was a man of strength, honor, and integrity whose unwavering beliefs were the compass he used to direct his steps. A devoted family man, Fred was a loving husband and father who was so proud to witness his family tree blossom to include the grandchildren and great-grandchildren he adored. A longtime resident of the Muskegon community, he loved the beauty of living on Lake Michigan and loved nothing more than being surrounded by his loved ones. It was great to be an American during the 1920s. These were vibrant days when we welcomed things like radios, refrigerators, and washing machines into our homes when cars were more affordable for American families due to the widespread implementation of the assembly line. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1928 that was filled with great anticipation for Fred Adolf and Lauretta Abair Stohr as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child as the beauty of summer began to unfold on the city of Ludington, Michigan. The big day finally arrived on May 25th when the baby boy they named Frederick Donald drew his first breath. He was the oldest of three children in his family, and he was raised in the family home in Ludington alongside his two sisters, Phyllis and Joyce. Fredericks father was an auto mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership while his mother was a busy homemaker. In many ways Fred was a young boy of his generation. He enjoyed playing baseball and other sports with the other neighborhood boys, and he had a paper route to help bring in some extra money during the dark days of the 1930s due to the Great Depression. Things were tight for countless American families, and the Stohr family was not immune from the struggles. At times Fred also worked on his uncles farm to bring in to help make ends meet. He was a student at local schools including Ludington High School where he sang in the choir and was also the chief of the student police force. After graduating from high school, Fred spent some time playing drums in a local band. A bit later, he joined the United States Navy. Fred was a machinist mate aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Valley Forge during its round the world goodwill cruise, which took them through both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal from 1948 through 1949. With his military duties fulfilled, Frederick returned to West Michigan where he was eager for new and exciting experiences. He studied accounting at Muskegon Business College, but it was his personal life that soon became very interesting as he had met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Janet Gibson, and they met at a beach party under rather unusual circumstances as they were both on blind dates with other people. Sparks flew right from the start, and Fred and Janet began dating. Over time they fell deeply in love, and with a desire to establish a life together the sweethearts were married on October 7, 1950, in St. Pauls Episcopal Church in Muskegon. Not long after, Fred and Janet discovered that they would become parents. Together they welcomed four children including Susan in 1951, John Jack in 1954, Nancy in 1956, and Karen in 1958 into their hearts and home. When they were first married, Fred and Janet lived in an apartment in downtown Muskegon, and from there they spent some time living in a small cottage on Lake Michigan, but they soon bought a bigger home on Beach Street across from Pere Marquette Park. This was the place Fred called home for the rest of his life. When their children were young, Fred and his family attended First Congregational Church where Fred was a Sunday school teacher for a few years. To support his family, Fred worked as a CPA for Factory Supply for a while before spending 18 years working for Matson Oldsmobile. At that point, Freds best buddy, George Gashal, had finally convinced him to come work for him at Graichens Department Store in Fremont until he retired. Fred was always one to be busy. For years he and Janet went dancing at the Muskegon Elks and at the Pavilion in Fruitport. They also had a group of friends whom they socialized with and played cards, and they were also members of the Muskegon Vikings. Fred and his buddies bought an old 120 acre farm located between White Cloud and Hesperia that they used for hunting camp. Named the Big L Ranch, Fred loved going there, and even if they werent hunting the group of friends often went up there just to hang out, often making chili, too. Fred cut many trails and roads through the woods on the ranch through the years. Over time, more guys joined the ranch, and they brought their sons there too. Fred also took several fishing trips with his buddies, and he remained close to his relatives in the Ludington area with whom he regularly gathered for family reunions. He took an interest in genealogy and kept detailed records of his ancestors. A longtime resident of his community, Fred was a member of the Muskegon Elks and Ducks Unlimited. Once he retired, Fred enjoyed having more time to pursue his interests. He and Janet traveled more including a trip to Hawaii, several cruises, and winters spent in Florida for a few years. Fred loved being a grandpa, and he spent as much time with his grandchildren as he could. A few of his grandchildren even lived with him and Janet for a few years. Reading was a favorite pastime, especially when it came to westerns and science fiction. Fred was a busy gardener who had fruit trees and bushes in the backyard, and he also grew vegetables as well. In addition, he knew his way around the kitchen and was famous for his chili and soups. With unending devotion to those around him, Frederick Stohr was the sort of man whom everyone wanted to know. He suffered with various heart issues, but he recovered from bypass surgery well and was never one to complain. Fred never took the beauty of the world around him for granted, and his zest for life was contagious. He will be deeply missed, but his timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow in his footsteps. Frederick Stohr died on Friday, March 27, 2015. Freds family includes his wife, Janet; son, John "Jack" (Brenda) Stohr of Eaton Rapids; daughters; Susan (Don Thompson) Stohr of Pasadena, TX; Nancy (Jim) Brady of Grand Haven, Karen Rowe of Florida; 11 grandchildren, Bonnie (Pat) Miller, Donny Thompson, Kelsie Thompson, Isaac (Anne) Stohr, Micah Stohr, Marlon Brady, Russell Brady, James II Brady, Andrea (Derrick) Veeder, Amanda Rowe, Brian Rowe; 3 great-grandchildren, Johnathon Stohr, Evan Stohr, Gabrial Stohr; Sister, Joyce VanHanselaere. Fred was preceded in death by his parents & sister, Phyllis Appledorn. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 3:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon with Rev. Richard Williams Officiating. Visit with Freds family and friends on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 6:0 - 8:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association.