Frederick Pagelow,Jr.

Fred Fritz W. Pagelow, age 88, of Sheboygan, died on February 24, 2016, at Azura Memory Care Center in Sheboygan.
Fred was born in Sheboygan on November 8, 1927 to Frederick Sr. and Marie (Folz) Pagelow. He attended St. Clement Catholic Grade School in Sheboygan.
Fred was raised during the Great Depression years and his life was shaped by it. He never wavered in his faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout his life, he humbly bowed his head in prayer, thanking the Lord for every meal he was blessed with. He was a man with abundant strength, stamina and a grip of steel.
At the age of 17, during the 11th grade, Fred dropped out of the former Central High School to enlist in the US Navy, on January 10, 1945. He was given rides from friends, hitchhiked and hopped passenger trains to and from Chicago, IL.
Following boot camp in Great Lakes, IL, Fred began his tour of active sea duty aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Her crew operated in the South Pacific. He was transported from the Ulithi Islands and then participated in the Battle of Okinawa during WWII.
On June 5, 1945, the Hornet was struck by a severe typhoon. Hurricane force winds of 80.5 mph with gusts up to 127 -138 100 ft. seas, collapsed some 24ft. of her forward flight deck. Attempts were made by his superiors to launch aircraft from the stern, but proved too unreliable to conduct sustained combat operations. Following a brief stop in the Philippines the Hornet returned to the West Coast for repairs.
After a 30 day leave Fred was stationed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Naval Air Force Base in Hawaii. There he contracted a case of Cat Fever which was common among troops.
Fred was honorably discharged June 21, 1946. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal (2 Bronze Stars), and the American Area Campaign Medal.
He re-enlisted in the US Air Force on January 27, 1948 and joined the Occupied Forces stationed at Haneda Air Base in Japan. He was discharged under honorable conditions on May 25, 1950 and was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan clasp and also received a letter of commendation for accomplishing an additional assignment of drafting lecture charts.
Fred never forgot the dog named Sack who roamed the air base in Japan providing friendship and comfort for the young troops far from home. The men always treated him with extra chow from the mess hall.
Upon his return home, Fred worked various jobs including his favorite at the Manitowoc Shipyards. He would have remained there, had the job not been outsourced to Sturgeon Bay, WI. He was later employed as a letter carrier with the US Postal Service in Sheboygan until the time of his retirement.
On June 14, 1952, Fred married the love of his life, June E. Berge at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. The marriage was blessed with five children. Fred and June raised their family in the Town of Mosel. June preceded him in death on December 31, 1999 following 47 years of marriage. Fred attended the Evangelical Free Church and was a current member of Luther Memorial Church in Sheboygan.
In August 2004, Fred proudly received his high school diploma from South High School which he referred to as his War Diploma.
In his younger years, Freds hobbies included; hunting, fishing, raising chickens and pigeons, and vegetable gardening. In his later years; feeding and watching his backyard birds and enjoying the presence of nearby wildlife. He also enjoyed his drives in the countryside, stopping along the roadside to watch the contented cows as well as visits to Lake Michigan, always watching for diving ducks. And there was nothing better than a walk in the cool fresh air.
Fred is survived by his beloved three sons and two daughters, all in Wisconsin; Peter (Cathy) Pagelow of Elkhart Lake, Patty (David) Brice of Green Bay, Tom (Sue) Pagelow of Sheboygan, Tim (Lois) Pagelow of Elkhart Lake and Heidi Pagelow of Sheboygan. He was so proud of his five grandchildren; Robert (Jessica) Worthington of Boynton Beach, FL, Amy (Andrew) Dillon of Elkhorn, and Andrew Pagelow of Milwaukee, Jamie Pagelow and Jack Pagelow of Sheboygan. He adored his five great-grandchildren, Alyssa Natal, Issabella Worthington, Miles, Sunniva, and Magdalen Dillon. He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Carol Holzwart of Cleveland; his brother-in-law, Jim (Carol) Berge of Sheboygan; and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his wife, June, Fred was preceded in death by his brother, Peter Howard Pagelow, Sr. of Albany, GA and his sister, Marie Gloria Haefele of Hales Corners.
Fred found true contentment in basic necessities and the simple joys in life. Your family will miss your blue eyes, your words of wisdom, quotations of memorized scripture, and your expressions often heard; By Golly, The Ice Box, and from the song Youll find your happiness lies right under your eyes, back in your own backyard.
Freds family is especially grateful for the quality care he received from Dr. Hancock and his former doctor, Dr. Helminiak, their nurses and countless staff involved in his care throughout the years at the Sheboygan Clinic. Also a thank you to Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, Orange Cross Ambulance, the Sheboygan County Sherriffs Dept., Azura Memory Care in Sheboygan Oshkosh, Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Sheboygan Home Instead Senior Care, St. Nicholas Hospice and the Veterans Administration in Sheboygan and Milwaukee. Thank you all for your patience, compassion and attention to both medical and emotional needs and your gentle bedside manner. Thanks also to Ballhorn Funeral Chapels for your kindness and assistance.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Ballhorn Funeral Chapels 1201 N. 8th St. Sheboygan with Rev. Matthew Peters, Pastor at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, will officiate. Burial with full military honors will follow at Lutheran Cemetery where Frederick will be laid to rest beside his wife, June. A time of visitation and support will be held at Ballhorn Funeral Chapels from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name.
Please visit www.ballhornchapels.com to sign the guestbook.