Donald Fredrickson, 61, Glenville

Published 10:56 am Monday, July 9, 2012

The memorial service for Donald Fremont Fredrickson “Fred” of Glenville will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church in Glenville. The Rev. James Rushton will officiate. Interment will be in the North Shellrock Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded.

Donald died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at his home. He was 61 years old.

Donald Frederickson

Donald was born June 7, 1951, in Albert Lea to Fremont and Norma (Bergland) Fredrickson. He has been a lifetime Glenville resident and graduated from Glenville High School in 1969. He then entered the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. In 1974 he continued his education at Albert Lea Vocational and Technical School where he met the love of his life. Donald married Rebecca Sherburne on June 19, 1976, at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea, and they had been together for 36 years. Donald was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Glenville and was baptized and confirmed there. He was a member of the American Legion. Donald was a tremendous volunteer. He devoted his life to helping others especially veterans. He has served more than 10,000 volunteer hours for the Minneapolis veterans hospital.

He considered “his mission in life” to drive the van for veterans of Freeborn County to the Veterans Administration hospital and transporting the World War II veterans to Rochester for the WWII Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Donald also enjoyed being a blood donor and has given many gallons to the blood bank. He was a huge fan of all sports. Donald was a proud supporter of the Glenville boys’ basketball team. He has traveled with his wife to many areas of the country. He especially enjoyed celebrating his 25th anniversary in Greece and London. Donald was an avid outdoorsman who loved arrowhead hunting. Donald was proud of the community of Glenville. He was a very compassionate, generous, stable person. Donald’s family was very special to him, especially his grandchildren.

Donald is survived by his wife Rebecca Fredrickson of Glenville; son: Daniel Fredrickson (Alexis Frischmon) of Mankato; daughters: Kristyn Fredrickson (Robert Willaby) of Glenville, and Amy Avelar and her husband Travis of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Hunter, Madison, Nicholas, Holden, Chloe, Ava and Brynn (due August 2012); mother-in-law: Delores Sherburne of Albert Lea; brothers: Dennis (Sandra) Fredrickson of Glenville, sister: Sonia Willaby of Glenville, brother: Brian Fredrickson of Albert Lea and sister: Mary (Paul) Allison of Blooming Prairie; step sister: Brenda (David) Strenge of Ellendale, step brother: Scott (Sandy) Stucky of Northwood, step sister: Andrea (Kurt) Nelson of Crystal, and step brother: Craig Stucky of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law: Debby (Jim) Brossard of Dover, Vicki (Tony) Pestorious of Albert Lea, and Kathy (Loren) Aase of Faribault; brother-in-law: Glenn (Janie) Sherburne of Albert Lea; sister-in-law: Sue (John) Tasker of Geneva; aunt: Thelma Hall of Albert Lea, and uncle: Arden Bergland of Albert Lea; and many nieces, nephews and special friends.

Donald was preceded in death by his father: Fremont Fredrickson, mother: Norma (Bergland) Hickman; father-in-law: Glenn Sherburne and brother-in-law: David Willaby; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Donald will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

The family especially thanks the Mayo Clinic hospice nurses Kathy, Julie and Nancy, veterans officer John Rhiger and Donald’s oncologist, Dr. Ayse Dincer, for her gentle care and compassion.