Frederick Thomas Kehr's Obituary
Paris - Frederick Thomas "Fritz" Kehr, 92, of Paris, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born February 21, 1931, in Bay City, the son of Lewis and Nellie (Hartley) Kehr. Fred attended school in Bay County, at the "one room country Cherry School", then the Flint schools, before moving with the Russell and Geneva Gilchrist family to Mecosta county where he attended Stanwood Elementary and Big Rapids High School.
On February 7, 1952, Fred was drafted into the US Army, and served his basic training at Camp Gordon in Georgia. He was assigned to the 29th Signal Corp and was shipped to Germany and France, where they secured the ammunition fields left from World War II. Fred was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Cpl E-4.
On December 31, 1954, he married Noreen Battle in Reed City. In 1958 they bought a farm west of Paris, where they still live, raising cattle and horses.
Fred worked for General Motors in Flint before moving to Paris. In 1958, he joined the Physical Plant staff at Ferris State College, where he remained for 35 years, retiring as the Paint Supervisor in 1993.
Fred was a longtime member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Paris, and currently a member of St. Mary - St. Paul Parish. He remained busy in the Farm Community and the Paris Antique Business.
Fred is survived by his wife Noreen; their children, Randall (Marsha) Kehr, Gregory Kehr, and Kimberly (Robert) Kleeves; grandchildren, Andrew and Adam Kehr, Shayla (Sam) Olmstead, David Saivdes, and Raymond and Joshua Kleeves; great granddaughter Paige Kehr; his brother Gerald Kehr; his sister Ilene Hamel; many nieces and nephews; and the extended Battle family. Fred was preceded in death by his brother Donald Kehr and sister Margaret Scott.
The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 5, 2024, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Big Rapids, with Father Dan DePew as celebrant. Burial will follow at the Saint Anne's Cemetery in Paris. Fred's family will greet friends from 3-6 p.m., Thursday, January 4, 2024, at the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids, and beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday at the church. Memorial contributions in Fred's name may be made to St. Vinny's Ministry. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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