Neal R. Fredrickson

Neal Richard Fredrickson of West Des Moines passed away from complications of a stroke on October 16 at Kavanagh House.

Neal was born on September 3, 1935 to Neal O. and Vera Fredrickson in Sioux City. His mother died when he was a baby and his stepmother Grace helped raise him in Des Moines.

Neal was a patriotic man and left Roosevelt High School early with a group of friends to enlist in the military. He later finished his education at Grand View. Neal was a Marine at Camp Pendleton from 1952 to 1954. The night before he was to leave for Korea he was struck by a car and spent the next year in a body cast for his compound fracture.

Upon his honorable discharge as a corporal, Neal returned to Des Moines and married Marie H. Jones on August 13, 1955. The family moved to West Des Moines in 1965 where Neal and Marie still lived.

Neal worked at Delavan Manufacturing in West Des Moines for 42 years, working his way up the ranks to plant manager, where he was responsible for a staff of 200. A God sign during his final journey was that he passed away in a hospice room memorialized for a coworker, Marlyn (and Jane) Gillespie.

After retirement Neal and Marie became snowbirds, wintering in Galveston Island, Texas, and then Panama City Beach, Florida, where they made new friendships. They also enjoyed crafting together and selling their handmade wood pens, bowls, vases, and jewelry at crafts shows and farmers markets for many years.

Neal and Marie were Iowa football season ticket holders for 30 years, hosting large tailgates and traveling to away and bowl games.

Neal was a charter and lifetime member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Clowns as well as being a 50-year member of the Masons, Consistory, Eastern Star, and other organizations.

Neal was a 50-year member of West Des Moines Christian Church, serving as an elder and a deacon and on various committees. For several years he helped at Vacation Bible School, sharing his woodworking talents with the children.

He was involved in his children’s and grandchildren’s activities, rarely missing events. He volunteered for Camp Fire, WDM Girls Softball, Junior Achievement, and Rainbow Girls, among others.

Neal was loved and cherished by his family: his wife of 69 years Marie; daughters Terri Fredrickson and Neala (Jim) Ellingson; grandson AJ (Tara) Ellingson; granddaughter Ashley (Matt) Graber; great-granddaughters Anna and Macie Ellingson; and family friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, brother Jack Fredrickson, and a host of relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, November 2 at 11 a.m. with visitation with family from 10 to 11 a.m. at West Des Moines Christian Church. Burial with military rites will be Monday, November 4 at 12:30 p.m. at Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to West Des Moines Christian Church, EveryStep Kavanagh House, or Shriner Children’s Hospitals.

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