Fred J. Heitkamp, Jr.

FRED HEITKAMP JR.

Fred "Fritz" John Carl Heitkamp Jr., age 87, of Menomonie, WI passed away Monday, March 22, 2010 at Red Cedar Medical Center in Menomonie.

He was born Dec. 21, 1922 in Montevideo, MN to Fred and Leona (Leininger) Heitkamp Sr. As a teenager, Fred moved with his family to the Menomonie area and was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Fred attended Menomonie High School until enlisting in the U.S. Army during W.W.II. On Oct. 9, 1948 he married Marion Henderson at Tainter Evangelical United Brethren Church in rural Colfax. They moved to Minneapolis, MN where Fred worked at S.J. Groves Co. before moving back to Menomonie. During the Korean War he was called back into active service and his family moved to Colorado. After his military service, they moved back to Menomonie and purchased a farm in the Township of Red Cedar. They farmed while Fred also worked at Farmers Union Feed Mill, later purchasing a Farmers Union fuel oil route. The 1958 tornado took their barn so they sold the cattle and did cash cropping. After selling the fuel oil route, Fred worked as custodian at U.W. Stout until retiring. Needing something to occupy his time in retirement, he became a greeter at Wal-Mart.

Fred was an active member of Tainter United Methodist Church and held several offices. He also enjoyed playing dart-ball in the church league. He supervised the small animal barn at the Dunn Co. Fair and was Assessor for Red Cedar Township for many years. Fritz and his wife were members of a 500 card club for 46 years with the same group. Fritz enjoyed camping, carpentry and reading and watching westerns. He loved his family and will be sadly missed.

Fred is survived by:
His wife of over 61 years, Marion
Son Jeffrey (Patricia) Heitkamp of Menomonie
Daughter, Kristine (Phillip) Martin of Menomonie
Grandsons, Jeremy Green (Mirranda Sweeny), Brandon Heitkamp and Bryan Heitkamp
Step-grandchildren, Trista Turner and Jacob Martin (Sarah Tooley)
Great-granddaughter, Lily Green
Step-great-grandson, Matthias Sweeny
A sister, Barbara Krueger of Owatonna, MN
Also survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Merton, Raymond, Kenneth and Bobby, five sisters, Mary, Evelyn, Vivian, Ardelle and Betty, and a grandson Jeffrey Heitkamp Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, March 27, 2010 at Tainter United Methodist Church, in the Town of Tainter, Dunn Co., WI with Pastor Jeanne Jones officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military honors by Menomonie Veterans Honor Guard. There will be visitation from 4:00 to 8:00 pm Friday at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.