“I’ve had a good run.” were words that Fred shared as he knew that he was coming to the end of his days here on this plane.  He started his life being born at home in Fairfax Ohio.  He was joined by twin brothers Jack and Bill a few years later.  They spent much of their youth playing in the near by woods.  Saturday summers were often spent at a movie with his father. The air conditioning a respite from the heat and humidity.  From his mother, came his love for reading.  Often taking on books and reader’s digest magazines that she passed on.  He loved athletics.  Many evenings spent with neighborhood friends playing basketball and his mile long runs home for lunch in preparation for track.  His young adult years were spent prepping him for a life long career as a forester including Ohio State, Michigan State and Yale.  Before starting a permanent position with the US Forest Service he served a two year stint with the army in Germany.  There he met his wife of 55 years, Marianne. Together they raised a family of three children Bernd, Rose and Christine.  Rose and Christine spent much of their youth trailing after him in the woods, his one step to their three.  Fred’s forestry career lead him through a variety of areas and districts starting in Crested Butte and landing in Fort Collins with what is now the Canyon Lakes Ranger district.  He retired from the US Forest Service only to then start up with the State Forest Service as a SEAT (single engine air tanker) manager.  A part time position that allowed him and Marianne to explore their wanderlust, adventure new places and experience new things together. In his later years, he remained an avid reader, a sudoko puzzler and continued with daily walks.  His 87 years old body and mind finally wore down and he passed January 30th 2026.  He will be dearly missed by his remaining family: daughter’s Rose and Christine; Son-in-law Nathan: Grandson Nick, his wife Amber and daughter Berlyn; Granddaughter Missy and her daughter Maddy; and daughter-in-law Donna wife of Bernd who preceded Fred in death.  One of Fred’s last stories he shared was leading a large fire crew of Sioux with the word Hoka hey “let’s go.” In researching this terminology, it has a much deeper meaning. It is a Lakota term which means to have lived your life in such a way that you were ready whenever your time came, that you had been respectful and had honored your family, responsibilities and ancestors.  Hoka hey sweet Dad.