Arthur E. Fredericksen

Arthur E. Fredericksen, 88, passed away on January 18, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa surrounded by loving family.

Arthur was born on April 21, 1935 in Adair, Iowa to Elmer and Velma (Steadman) Fredericksen, one of 7 children. After high school, Arthur joined the Army and spent 31 months in Germany, near Frankfurt. Following the Army, he worked for many years at Midwest Lumber and then Jordan Millwork from which he retired.

After he was discharged from the Army in 1957, Arthur returned home and traveled to Baxter, Iowa to meet a girl he had been writing to while in the Army. As fate would have it, while he was driving through town, he came across a different girl in a car with some friends. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and began talking to her. From that day forward, they spent every day together and on March 28, 1958, Arthur and the beautiful girl, Sandy, were married. They would go on to have 10 children, 25 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Arthur enjoyed playing solitaire, hearts, doing word search puzzles, going to the Iowa State Fair and the East Side Senior Center, joking around with pretty much anyone he came into contact with, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by 8 children, Cindy Vang, Lisa (Patrick) Tyler, Cheryl (Shiah Yeau) Chen, Daryl (Darla) Fredericksen, Laurie (Martin) Cummings, Darin Fredericksen, Derek (April) Fredericksen, and Danny Fredericksen; 22 grandchildren, Tony, Susan, Ronnie, Jimy, Jennifer, Kellie, Malissa, Kaytlyn, Sandy, Leilei, Karin, Kristen, Melanie, Candi, DJ, Malynda, Josh, Kenny, Ashley, Haely, Bella and Lukus; 38 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Arthur was preceded in death by parents, Elmer and Velma Fredericksen; his siblings, Robert, Donny, Jerry, Sara, Bett and Lou; his loving wife of 53 years, Sandy; 2 children, Arthur Elmer, Jr. and a stillborn daughter that was not named; and 3 grandchildren, Ricky, Dustin and Jacob.

The family will greet friends on Friday, January 26, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway followed by the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. Arthur will be laid to rest at Jefferson Cemetery in Menlo, Iowa.

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