Leo Frederick

Joel, Jon and Jayne and families, how sorry I was to hear the news of your dad’s stroke and passing. For him I’m sure it was a graduation into glory, but for you a time of sorrow and grief. I have so many memories from our yearly visits to your home as we were growing up. I’m so thankful our dad’s kept in touch and let us all become friends just as they were. I believe my dislike of pickles began at your home when I “over sampled” them before the meal began. I will always remember Leo as a soft spoken, gentle man with great faith and a love of music, his family and his Lord. Did you know that our dads died the month although a few years apart? I am unable to join you at the funeral, but will be thinking of you all.

My thoughts are with you, Jane. Take care of yourself.
Nicki K.

Growing up, we visited the farm and enjoyed Aunt Georgia’s cookies. As time passed, we came to know Leo for the gentle, kind and honorable man he was with everyone around him. A steward of the land, it seemed fitting for him to be on the home place. His love of music he shared with his family and community. His love of photography resulted in many generous photographs of events, including my wedding. He gave Bonnie, his first cousin and my mother, a few pointers of using the camera for a family vacation. However, I think she needed his mentoring for the long haul. Whether or not it skipped a generation, my love of photography and nature continues and hopefully, will make Leo’s spirit soar and touch others as well. Love and prayers from the Paula Thomson family.

I’ve long maintained that my earliest memory was of an event that occurred when I was only two months old. As a baby I was placed in a big comfy chair which had been moved outdoors at the Frederick farm, for a photo of four generations – me, my Uncle Leo, my Great Uncle Elmer Frederick, and my Great-Great Uncle John Hoodmacher. Skeptics have always claimed that I was projecting backwards to this event, which may have been so, but if nothing else this memory reflects the central role that Leo played in my life from its very beginning. I was in a sense his namesake (we both shared the middle name of Edward) and as a young single man, Leo became a super-uncle to me, a role he would continue to play even after marrying Collette and raising his own family. He was always eager to host my “working” visits to the Frederick farm where, after expenditure of modest efforts on my part, he would find ways for us to have fun together – whether it was fishing down at Coon Creek, playing “Annie-Annie Over” by throwing a ball over a farm outbuilding, or heading down to Iowa City to swim at the public pool there. I think that Leo gave me my first driving lessons too, out in the pasture in his old pickup truck and steering the tractor down the rows of alfalfa with a hay baler. Thank you, Uncle Leo, for being there for me throughout my life. I will miss you dearly.