Frederick Richard Obituary

Richard, Frederick L. 75, of Midlothian, passed away on July 22, 2012 after a courageous battle against cancer. He was a devoted and loving husband; an adoring father, grandfather and great-grandfather; a cherished brother and friend to many. Born of October 28, 1936 in rural Bisbee, North Dakota, Fred was a farm boy who joined the United States Army in his teens and served honorably in the Korean War. He later moved to the Chicago area and forged a successful career first as a truck mechanic and later as a self-employed truck driver and a local businessman in Alsip, IL. He and Brenda (nee Winters) married in 1980. Because of their large combined families, their family was often dubbed the "Bradys of the Eighties". Fred enjoyed life to the fullest living in every sense of the phrase, "work hard, play hard". Fred was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing and boating, and also loved to take family "motor home" trips over the years. Together, he and Brenda traveled the world over and visited such destinations as Las Vegas, Europe, Australia, Mexico, several cruises and all 50 states. They also relished the warm weather and company of friends in Naples, FL and kept a winter residence there. Fred was the beloved husband of, and is survived by, Brenda; loving and supporting father of Tina Ragsdale (nee Richard), Jenette Lindahl (nee Richard), Frederick Richard, Kevin Richard, Robert Morrison, Richard Morrison, Ray Morrison, Belinda Masters (nee Morrison) and Ryan Morrison; grandfather of 17; great-grandfather of 2; brother of Ione, Elda, Faye, Rodney and Gordon; son of the late Frederick and Elnora Richard (nee McLean); dear uncle of many nieces and nephews. Funeral Thursday, July 26, 2012, 11 am, at the McKenzie Funeral Home, 15618 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Forest, IL. Interment 1:30 pm at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W. Hoff Road, Elwood, IL. Visitation Wednesday 3 to 9 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Jude's Children Hospital in Memphis, TN, an organization dedicated to fighting diseases in children and one that Fred supported, is preferred (www.stjude.org; navigate to "Ways to Help"). Info: 708-687-2990