Charles William
Frederick Jr.
- A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 12:00pm-1:00pm at HERITAGE FUNERAL HOME 4800 S. 84th St. followed by a service at 1:00pm. Burial will follow at St. John’s cemetery.
Charles W. Frederick Jr.
7/31/31 – 5/8/24
A devoted husband of 54 years, he “loved to travel with my best friend … whom I miss dearly,” as he once wrote. He was also a loving, generous, and witty father, grandfather, and great grandfather and a retired Greenfield Police sergeant who worked previously as a bus driver and truck driver and who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Charles W. Frederick Jr. died surrounded by family on May 8, 2024, of natural causes and with his wits still fully intact. His darned body failed him. Simple as that. Old age. He was an impressive 92 years old.
He grew up in and near downtown Milwaukee with six sisters who teased him lovingly and protected him fiercely. His family wasn’t always the wealthiest. He recalled nights squirreling pieces of bread under his pillow so he’d have breakfast in the morning. As a Boy Scout, his love of fishing and the northwoods took root. He was graduated from Boys’ Tech High School in Milwaukee (a couple of years ahead of Bob Uecker) and then served in the U.S. Army in Germany, including as a military police officer.
After extending his service to his country, he returned to Milwaukee. His nine years of driving bus for Milwaukee County included transporting the Milwaukee Braves, each ballplayer offering him a heartfelt “Thanks, Bussie” on their way out.
In Milwaukee, he met the love of his life, a schoolteacher whose walks home every day took her past where he was living. His sisters arranged a meeting, God bless them. He was married on July 10, 1960, and set off for a honeymoon drive around Lake Superior. After discovering the highway unfinished, they returned to Brillion, Wisconsin, to take his in-laws fishing.
His dedicated career with the Greenfield Police Department began as an officer in 1968. He retired as a respected and revered sergeant in 1990, pleased and thankful that in more than two decades wearing the blue he never was required to fire his weapon in the line of duty.
The toughest day of his life came in June 2015 when his wife and partner in everything passed away. Clarice (Siegler) was 76.
He was preceded in death also by his parents Charles William and Elsie; his stepmother Thora; all of his sisters, LaVerne, Audrey, Lois, Carla, Bea, and Ardeth; a daughter Cheri Sorensen; and a son-in-law Gary Sorensen.
He is survived by daughters Lori (Ed) Taylor and Cindy (Brian) Voigt, son Chuck (Julie) Frederick, 12 grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren: Robyn Taylor; Lisa Taylor; Shelby (Ben) Crosby and their children McKenna and Forest; Steven (Kim) Sorensen; Troy (Steph) Sorensen; Heather (Josh) Erickson and their children Tristan, Treven, Lincoln, Eliana, and Jackson; Nicole Voigt; Samantha (Julio) Voigt and their children Maddielynn and Caidyn; Jeremy (Ashley) Voigt and their children Camden and Lyla; Claire Frederick; Charleigh Frederick; and Regine Frederick.
A visitation is scheduled for noon Tuesday, May 21, followed by a 1 p.m. funeral service, both at Heritage Funeral Home, 4800 S. 84th St. Military rites and the Greenfield Police Honor Guard will be graveside at the St. John’s Lutheran Church cemetery, 4001 S. 68th St., Milwaukee, immediately following the funeral service.
The Carter Family, who he loved to listen to, including in his final hours, once sang, “For I love you dear I love you / More than all this world I know / … We have met and we have parted / We have spoke our last goodbye.”
We have indeed. As difficult as that is, all of us can be thankful for God’s blessing of so many wonderful years of good health, walleye fishing, cherished memories, and the abundant love of a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
So many nights your Dad would yell at us to stop
Playing basketball because the ball was hitting the house. Or we were downstairs listening to heavy metal and get yelled at to be quiet . Great memories. lol
Great guy and great man.
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I am so sorry to hear of Charles passing. He was one of my Sunday morning regulars at Meyers restaurant for many years. I could always count on his smiling face to be there after mass. We would talk about his fishing trips, family and the packers. When I left Meyers I made sure to exchange numbers so I could call and check in on him. I just thought to myself, I need to call and check in as it’s been some time, and then I found this. I am sending all my love to the family, Charles will be missed deeply.
I was a hostess at Meyer’s Restaurant and always looked forward to seeing Charles on Sundays after church. He would walk through the front door at the restaurant always with a smile on his face.. Charles always asked for a server named Jessica and she and I would make a game of who would keep his coffee cup full. Charles got the biggest kick out of that. He will be missed by many. RIP my friend
Dear Lori, Cindy and Chuck, I’m so sorry to hear of Uncle Chucks passing. Dale and I were just talking about my family members. My brother Bob has been suffering from dementia and we were in Florida last week and he was talking a lot about my mom and dad. It made me wonder about our family again and again. I remember your mom and dad so fondly even though we saw them so seldomly. I hope all your memories will bring you comfort now. God Bless, your cousin Yvonne (Bugler) Dikiara.
I never got to know my uncle but I like to think his path in law enforcement made it through the sky to me. I too spent my adult life in law enforcement. I have thoughts of him and me sharing “war stories”.
From his obituary he sounded like such a wonderful man.
Its now EOW. Time to rest.
I will meet you on the other side, dear uncle.
To the family and friends of Charles W Frederick, Kathy and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy.
I work with Chuck for many years at the Greenfield Police Department. I started in 1970 as a clerk trainee and then left for 2 years with the US Army. Officer Frederick was one of several officers who would train and assist new officers. Towards the end of his career Chuck and I were day shift patrol sergeants together. I feel very fortunate to have had Charles as a friend and mentor during my time with the Greenfield Police Department, He was always respected for his judgement and experience and everyone at one time or another sought his advice.
Sergeant Frederick served the citizens of Greenfield and his fellow Police Officers with dedication, honor, integrity and compassion. I am honored to have been his friend.
Bill & Kathy Tiegs
Venice, Florida
To my dear Uncle Chuck and his family. I remember when he lived with us when I was young. I remember him in his MP uniform and his blue Ford Fairlain with the pointed wings.
It was a very snazzy car. and he really loved it.. I always looked up to him as a very cool Uncle ..
I really wish I could have known him as an adult. It seems as if he had a wonderful life, filled with a very large family and good friends.
I will see you on the other side Uncle Chuck.
Terri Schumacher
San Antonio, Tx
I was so sorry to hear of Chuck’s passing, I did not know him well but lived near him during my teen years. My father would talk to him frequently while out gardening and I remember him always being nice.
Praying for your hearts as you miss your loved one.