Albert "Fred" Paepke's Obituary
Albert Frederick Paepke, passed away at the age of 93 on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at Hillside Country Living, Bryan, Ohio surrounded by his family and friends. Albert, known by most of his friends and family as Fred or Frederick A. Paepke, was born April 10, 1923 to Albert John Paepke and Gladys (Bradley) (Dann) Paepke on their farm in Pierson Twp. Michigan.
He attended a little country school called "Jones School" K thru 8th grade. He loved to read. He once read a set of encyclopedias from A to Z.
Fred had many jobs in his life. He started working on a farm and milked cows and raised a large number of chickens. While farming in the early years he also worked on a logging crew, as a sawyer at sawmill and drove a lumber truck. In the late 40's he worked for a company making auto parts. Through the 50's and early 60's he worked as a carpenter and mason for a construction company, and a number of factories making furniture, jute boxes, automatic pilots and later working is a night janitor.
In the late 1960's and early1970's he was self employed as a residential builder and carpenter. He then started working for Greenville Public Schools, Greenville Mi as a janitor part time and retiring at age 62 in 1985 as head of the Greenville Public Schools the Maintenance Department.
During his early years of retirement, he worked part time for the Village of Lakeview, Mi as a cemetery sexton. Taking care of grass, flowers and digging graves. He loved that job, because the cemetery is on the edge of Tamarack Lake, and when he seen the fish were biting he would just put his tools away, get his fishing gear out of the car and go fishing.
Fred was always active in community activities. He was a leader in his church, New Live Untied Methodist. He was an active live member of the Lyons Club, when his children were young he was on the steering committee for the new Tri County high school, Howard City, Michigan, a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 67 of Trufant, MI and an area committee man for the Boy Scouts. He also was on the local EMS squad in Lakeview, MI for several years.
His Hobbies were hunting deer and small game, fly fishing, ice fishing or any other kind of fishing. One of his favorite fly fishing spots, was wading in Tamarack Lake near the Lakeview Cemetery.
Fred will be missed by his two sons, Frederick G. (Joyce M.) Paepke of Bryan, Ohio, and Albert A. Paepke of Coral, MI; one stepson, Dan Evans of Lakeview; six grandchildren, Frederick Paepke, Paul Paepke, Amanda Johnston, Allan Paepke, Derck Paepke, and Mindy Zuiderveen; two step-grandchildren, Jessie Evans, and Nick Miller; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; one brother, Dan H. (Louabelle) Paepke of Ola, Idaho; many nieces, nephews, friends, and church family.
Fred was preceded in death by his two beloved wives Delores (Evans) Paepke on April 10, 2000 and Dorothy (Liscombe) Cross Paepke on October 3, 1995; his parents Albert John and Gladis (Bradley) (Dann) Paepke; siblings, Glenn Dann, George Dann, Mildred (Dann) Call, and Carl Paepke.
Funeral Services for Fred will be Friday, November 25, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior at New Life United Methodist Church in Six Lakes with Pastor Sue Babb officiating. Burial will be in the Village of Lakeview Cemetery with a luncheon following at the church.
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