Fred Lee Noon
November 15, 2009
Fred Lee Noon was born on September 16, 1950, in Des Moines, Iowa. He died November 15, 2009, of an accidental fire in his camping van. We have lost a compassionate brother.
Fred was a life-long resident of Des Moines, attending Clarkson Elementary, Harding Jr. High, and Des Moines Tech High. He received a degree in Labor Studies from DMACC. He was a life-long learner and enjoyed taking classes of interest.
He volunteered for the US Army in 1968, and served in the Viet Nam war. He was an Army Ranger in the 138th Company of the 82nd Airborne Division where he received many decorations. He especially enjoyed parachuting. He was a member of the AmVets, VFW, and various other military service organizations.
He was an employee of the Public Works Department for the City of Des Moines and retired after 33 years of service.
He served many years as President of the Laborers Union Local 353 and always had the welfare of the members at heart. He organized and distributed Holiday food baskets. He was a mentor to young members.
He received the 2006 John L. Lewis Award for outstanding organized labor leadership and making major contributions toward human and civil rights in the State of Iowa presented by the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.
He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and relaxing under the night sky with friends and his dog Stryker. He participated in the "Outdoor Dan" show as a cameraman. Among his other hobbies were gun collecting and Civil War reenactment. He was accomplished in the martial arts and was a Kung-Fu instructor.
He served as a Board Member for the Isaac Walton League and volunteered for many activities such as the Kids Fishing Day. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, the NRA, and many other organizations.
He was an active member of the Democratic party and served in volunteer functions such as Delegate and Election Poll Observer. He counted many of the national and local leaders as his friends, especially Dick Dearden and Leonard Boswell.
He was predeceased in death by his mother Betty Noon and his sister JoAnne Enbusk. Surviving are 7 brothers and sisters: Charolette Kaster of Cedar Rapids, Larry (Alice) Noon of Grimes, James (Chris) Noon of Ankeny, Carol (Joe) Harter of Arizona, Richard Noon of Cedar Rapids, Patty Mitchell of Ames, Dorothy (Marc) Gergen of Michigan; brother-in-law Francis Enbusk of Des Moines. Fred never married but enjoyed numerous nieces and nephews and was especially close to his nephew Sean Mitchell of Des Moines.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Burial with full military honors will be at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, IA on Friday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. The cemetery is on the north side of Perry at 8th & Park. A celebration of life will be held at the Izaak Walton League, 4343 George Flagg Parkway in Des Moines (formerly Valley Drive) on Friday, November 20 at 12:00 noon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Izaak Walton League or to AmVets.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Charolette
11/21/2009
This message is to the friends of Fred, to those who's lives he enriched. His family knew of Fred's kind and generous heart, and over this last week it was moving to hear all the stories of how he had helped each individual. Thank you for sharing those with us. He was a true American, always working for the common man and generous to those less fortunate. Fred touched a lot of lives and made them better. Where he lived or what kind of car he drove were never important to him. The people in his life, and how he could help make their burdens a little lighter, were what was important. He was the epitome of the brotherhood of mankind. While we grieve his loss, these stories make us hold up our heads in the pride of how he lived his life.
Freds Brothers and Sisters.
Susan Wahlers (niece)
11/19/2009
Uncle Fred I will miss you. I know David really enjoyed spending time with you talking about hunting and sharing stories. Family times together were great to, considering we spoke of the two taboo topics all the time together: politics and religion. Even though we didn't always see eye to eye, I did love how you respected others and would listen to us and how you were able to articulate your passions. Glad I spent Christmas with you a few years back in my home in Arizona. I am blown away by how many people you helped throughout your life that you never told anyone about. What a humble man you were. Love you always. Your niece, Susie.
Kay Gerhart
11/20/2009
To the family of Fred Noon:
I believe I've met all of you in the past. I joined Fred at JoAnne's service. I'm sorry that I missed today due to being out of state at my daughter's. I have lost a wonderful friend. God bless all of you.
Kay Gerhart
3901-13th St.
Des Moines, IA 50313
515-244-2038
Scotty Hayes
11/19/2009
Hey uncle Fred just going to stop by here to leave you a little message. I love you and I miss you. I'm glad the last time we spent time together it was a blast. Do you remember how i told you i was going to go to central college and play football. :) you said i should go airborne. :) but anyways you were the first person i told to that to and its all for sure now. I got a scholarship and I'm going to play football and become a Central Dutchman. I'm glad that I had such a great, loving, caring and funny great uncle. I'm still kind of in shock it really hasn't hit me too hard. As the days have passed i have slowly began to see that I will miss you at all the family events. I loved spending time with you at my Grandmas Birthday party. I especially like the time when you showed me a martial arts move but you said you were getting to old so it was like that but only faster. that was really funny. You were a great person and you were the most involved person i knew. You will forever live on by the people who follow you because you were such an amazing person. Love your great Nephew Scotty Hayes
Scotty Hayes
11/19/2009
Hey uncle Fred I'm Stopping by here to tell you how much everyone will miss you. I love you dearly and so did everyone else. you had a huge impact on allot of people because of how involved you were. You were a great role model to many and I hope i could be as much of a man as you were. I hope I can be involved in as many things things as you were. I don't know how you did it all but its impressive. Remember that time you showed me a martial arts move and you said there you do that but only faster. that was funny. I love you and will never forget you.
Your Great Nephew
Scotty Hayes
Laborers' Local 430
11/19/2009
Our condolences to the family of Fred Noon.
With sincere sympathy:
Brothers & Sisters of Local 430
Cody McIntire
11/19/2009
Fred was a great man and will be missed dearly. I grew up around Fred and he was an Uncle to my brother and I. We spent lots of time with Fred down at Murray at the cabin. Fred always made us laugh and was fun to be around. My dad and Fred had been friends since high school. He would do anything for anyone. Fred loved dogs and the outdoors. He was truely a son of nature. Fred's death was tragic but he touched everyone when he was alive. He will never be forgotten in the hearts of many. Fred's visitation this evening was exactly what he would of wanted. Tomorrow's celebration will be as well. Fred was a role model for me growing up and to many others as well. My heart and prayers go out to Fred's family. Fred was a true American!
Darwin Nordquist
11/18/2009
Met Fred at Ikes some years ago.We had many conversations face to face and with emails.He always had a smile and a friendly greeting.Always ready to help when needed.He was a good friend and fun to be around. He was one of a kind and will be missed by all of us.
I met some of the family Tuesday night at Ikes.My condolences go out to all of the family and relatives.
Praying for you,
Darwin Nordquist
Rich Galloway "Bo"
11/19/2009
Fred you touched every one you met. Your smile and fun loving whit will be missed. You where always there for me and any one else who may need a helping hand or just a friend to talk to. The void you have left will not be easly filled. You where one of a kind. This has been a tough loss and we are all missing you. My condolences to all of Fred's family and frends. Lets be sure we celebrate his life. It is the way Fred would have wanted it.
Bo
Julie Scrignoli (mitchell)
11/19/2009
Uncle Fred was a very cool person to have as a friend but as an uncle he was amazing!!!!! A remember during x-mas we used to draw for names..everyone always wanted uncle fred to get their names he always would get that person something awesome!!!! we were only aloud to spend $10 but he always went above that..That was just his way!!!! He never had kids but with 30+ nieces and nephews we kept him pretty busy..... I will always remember that last night we spent together in July by the fire roasting hot dogs and laughing!!!!! Thanks for keeping our campfire burning!!!!! I LOVE YOU and I MISS YOU ALREADY!!!!! WHO"S GONNA BRING THE PIE????????????? LOVE JULIE ANN
Jamie Gergen
11/16/2009
Was stunned to hear of the passing of Uncle Fred last evening. Fred was always ready with a smile, no matter how bad things might be. He served his country and his fellow man, be it through his service in Vietnam, his work with the city worker's union, or just showing up to family gatherings with pie.