Frederick Grothe

Frederick I. Grothe, age 89 of Faribault, died Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.             Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lukes Church in Faribault with the Rev. Aaron Brockmeier, officiating. Interment will be held at the Maple Lawn Cemetery, Faribault.             Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday for one hour prior to services.             The family prefers that memorials be directed to St. Lukes Church in Faribault.             Frederick Ingvar Grothe was born on May 7, 1920 in Faribault, MN. Ingvar, his father, emigrated from Norway, married Anna Roeglin, and worked as a blacksmith. Fred had one older sister, Margaret. When Fred was six years old the family moved to Zumbrota, MN, and then back to Faribault when Fred was in high school. He graduated from Faribault High School, class of 1938.             On December 13, 1942, Fred and Dorothy Nichols, a 1939 graduate of Faribault High School, were married in Faribault. Fred referred to Dottie as "the sweetest woman in the world." They had four children; Dave, Steve, Patty, and Becky.             As a young man, Fred began a lifelong passion for flying. He became fascinated with airplanes from the age of five when a biplane flew over his house. After high school he formed a Faribault flying club that bought a Piper Cub airplane.             Fred received pilot training at the Lincoln Aeronautical Institute, Lincoln, Nebraska, and the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. In 1942, during World War II, he joined the U.S. Air Force where he would achieve the rank of major. He served as a flight instructor and received fighter pilot training, learning to fly P-51s. After the war ended, he joined the Air Force Reserve Wing. Twice he was recalled to active duty - in 1948, and again in 1951, during the Korean War, when he served on the Strategic Air Command staff of General LeMay.             Fred's next big adventure in life was starting his own business. Frederick-Willys Company, which manufactured pool tables, and had its headquarters in Farmington. Under his leadership, the business grew to be very successful, and was sold to Stanley Home Products in 1967. Fred stayed on for five years as president.             After leaving Frederick-Willys, Fred was involved in some new and some ongoing pursuits. He was president of the Minnesota Fighting Saints hockey team in Saint Paul. He continued his lifelong involvement in the church and was an avid golfer, hunter, and fisherman. Fred loved music and kept up with the brass wind instruments that he played since his youth. He was devoted to his family.             Fred is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dottie of Faribault; by his sons and daughters and their spouses, including David Grothe and Margaret Hass of St. Paul, MN, Steve Grothe of Pine Island, MN, Patty and Lane Purcell of Rexford, KS and Becky and Steve Sanford of White Lake, WI. Fred was a very fond grandfather of ten grandchildren, including, Zak and Calli Grothe, Naomi and Brett Latimer, Julia and Scott Nelson, David Purcell, Elizabeth and Jordan Carlson, Brianna and Ben Zeckmeister, Cam and Becca Sanford, Caleb Sanford, Michael Grothe, and Alex Grothe. He also has eight great grandchildren.             He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret Kroll.