"Very sad to hear of Fred?s passing. Fred was a dedicated Scout Master at Troop 302! Some of my most favorite memories growing up are when I was in the Scouts! Thank you Fred!!! "
In loving memory of
FREDERICK ROY "FRED" ANDERSON
September 15, 1950 - December 5, 2021
Frederick Roy Anderson, 71 of Marquette, died peacefully, Sunday morning, December 5, 2021, with his family and friends at his side at Trillium Hospice House. He was born September 15, 1950, in Marquette, the son of Roy S. and Mary E. (Milakovich) Anderson. He married his wife Vicki (Beltz, Forwerck) on February 12, 1994.
Fred Graduated from Bishop Baraga Central High School in 1968. While in high school he lettered in football and basketball as team manager. He continued his education at Michigan Technological University graduating in 1972 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Technology. He also lettered as the manager for Tech's basketball team. While attending Michigan Tech, Fred particularly enjoyed the fellowship at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church.
Fred's strong work ethic started early in life with helping his parents at the family business while in high school and summers while attending Michigan Tech. In 1972 Fred joined his parents at the family-owned business, Anderson Communications, immediately after graduation and hit the ground running. During his career at Anderson Communications, he worked on most of the radios used by Police, Fire and EMS Departments, as well as the Railroads and Shipping industry in the Upper Peninsula. Fred spent his entire career in communications eventually taking over the family business from his parents. Fred retired in 2018 after spending over a half a century in the communication industry. He was also an amateur radio operator N8BTS like his parents, Roy W8WNT and Mary KB8CKR.
Fred was involved in and a member of numerous civic organizations. Fred believed you gave from the heart and not the pocketbook and he gave his heart to helping youth in the community. Fred became heavily involved in scouts beginning in 1972 until his passing and served as an Assistant Scout Master of Troop 302 from 1972 - 1974 and 2018 - 2021 and Scout Master from 1974 - 2018. He received the Ad Atari Dei award in 1997 and the Silver Beaver award in 2018. He was involved in numerous scouting activities including, winter and summer camping, trips to National Parks Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks and Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes as well as luge and scuba diving. Many of his scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Fred was incredibly proud of the fact that two of his scouts also became US Olympic medalists in Luge.
He married his wife Vicki in 1994. Fred met her through Scouts when her son joined the Troop. After they married, they continued to volunteer together. Fred and Vicki were happily married for almost 28 years. He found an able partner in her and they loved spending time together. She participated with him in most activities including luge, rally and camping in the U.P. especially Isle Royale.
Fred became involved with luge beginning in 1983, working with sliders, officiating at luge events, holding various offices in the clubs and associations, as well as grooming the track at Lucy Hill in Negaunee. For years, before the club got the right equipment, he would shovel snow anytime of the day or night to ready the track for sliding. He spent every weekend at the track during the 'snow' months teaching the children how to luge. If you know how to luge you can thank Fred for his help either on or off the track. Fred traveled to Europe for the United States Luge Association on several occasions. As a member of the board of directors for the United States Luge Association he made the 15-hour trip to Lake Placid frequently. He and Vicki were National and International FIL Luge Officials and taught many National Officials.
Fred's interest in cars included his 1973 Corvette Stingray which he bought new while in college, the first electric car in Marquette a" Citi-Car EV Coupe". Fred was also involved in off road pro rally for more than 40 years. He competed in the SCCA Press on Regardless Pro Rally in Houghton MI in 1977, '78 and '79 as a driver in a Jeep CJ-7 and 2017 in the BMW "The Bad Dog". He finished all four years. Satch Carlson's "The Bad Dog" was a Rally-Prepped 1988 BMW 325iX 5-Speed, "The Bad Dog" powered by a Dinan-built stroker 2.7L turbocharged inline-six and said to make 350 hp mated to a 5-speed close-ratio manual transmission built by Metric Mechanic. Fred and Vicki were Driver/Navigator in "The Bad Dog" and involved in off road rallies for many years together with their involvement in rally as a layout/advance team. They traveled to many parts of Michigan to participate in events including Lake Superior Performance Rally, Magnum Opus, Central Upper Peninsula Rally in Powers and Hardwood. Fred said he never had a better navigator his entire life, both in and out of the car!
Fred was a member of Superiorland Kiwanis for over 50 years, serving as a club officer in many positions over the years. He was instrumental in establishing the Superiorland Kiwanis Midwest Junior Luge race which is held every year in Negaunee. Fred was also the mentor and patriarch for the Superiorland Kiwanis Community Christmas Dinner held annually. Fred Participated in many of the clubs' volunteer activities including an aid station for The Noquemanon Ski Marathon, The Ore to Shore race, The UP200, MIDNIGHT RUN & JACK PINE 30 Sled Dog Races, Art on The Rocks, MSHS Senior Class lock-in as well as many other volunteer projects just to name a few.
Fred was proudly half Swede and half Croatian. He was known for his hard work at the shop as well as his parents' churches, St Michael's and First United Methodist. Fred was a member of St. Michael's Parish and the Men's Club and worked many church breakfasts, dinners and events.
Fred was known for his easy manner and kindness. He never complained, only becoming frustrated when events negatively affected the youth he was working with. Fred was known for burning the candle at three ends! He never let sleep get in the way of his activities.
He collected vinyl records and was proud of his extensive Jimi Hendrix record collection. He also collected coins, flexible flier snow sleds and antique radios. He had an interest in photography and would go shoot snowmobile races in subzero weather. Music interests included Black Oak Arkansas and Alice Cooper, and he worked at the Blues Festival in Marquette as a volunteer for many years.
He is survived by his wife Vicki, son Daniel (Cheryl) Beltz from Monroe, NC, and grandson Avery. He is also survived by an aunt and uncle, Betty (Milakovich) Gifford and Peter (Michelle) Milakovich and several cousins. Lastly, he is survived by his companion and friend "Buffum" the dog.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to:
A Go-Fund-Me https://gofund.me/e7489320
Trillium House 1144 Northland Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Salvation Army, 1009 W. Baraga Ave, Marquette, MI 49855
A celebration of Fred's life will take place on Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services and will be live streamed at: https://my.gather.app/remember/frederick-roy-anderson
Tributes
"I am really sad to see this and wish I had found it in time to see the service. Rest well, Fred....you deserve it. Thank you for the many years of service to the community and for seeking me out each year to help you setup the phone lines and delivery portion. He was a very kind man who will be missed. "
"What a wonderful tribute to Fred this service was. I am so grateful that we were able to see and hear it from a distance. Fred was the epitome of a good Christian man: kind, caring, compassionate, and loving. He saw the best and brought out the best in others. Many many people benefitted because of his time spent on earth and will continue to love him and miss him. There is no greater tribute to a person than that. Rest well, Fred. You have earned it."
"Fred was one of the most caring individuals on the planet --- giving more than one can imagine to humanity. We enjoyed many trips with Fred while he visited Europe on his official luge duties. We enjoyed travels to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and France with him. Most memorable was he and Chuck driving from Heidelberg, where we lived, to Grenoble France to check out the luge runs for the 1991 winter Olympics. He and Vicki made a great pair and at our 2020 Milakovich reunion made the most wonderful potica bread for everyone to enjoy. He will be missed by so many and by all his cousins! Jennifer, Chuck, Stephanie and Christina Large "
"My cousin Fred was a gentle giant. He wasnt huge in stature but a giant in giving himself for his community. He will missed by his family of cousins, Aunt and Uncle. Rest in Peace Fred. Give our love to your Mom and Dad (Mary and Roy Anderson). They are waiting for you with opened arms and love ? Jean Milakovich Blazak"
"Fred's parents instilled a great work ethic in him. His devotion to the Luge program and Boy Scouts will be hard to match. Great guy."
"I was able to get to know Fred and his wife Vicki and hear some wonderful stories about Fred. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Darlene - Trillium House staff"
"Dear Family, I am sad to read of Freds passing. I so enjoyed the years I worked at Anderson Communications, Fred and I did not always agree especially when I cleaned his office, but I always had the utmost respect for him and his work he cared so much for. Vicki My heart goes out to you. May he rest in peace. Sincerely Jayne Zorza"
"Fred has always been both a friend and mentor for me, my brother, and many more fellows be it with scouting or the many other organizations he has been with. I am ever grateful for this and Fred,s kind and caring ways shall always be part of how I think, live and function. I'm not the best at expressing myself but I'll always be a "right hand man" for the family. With love and respect, Danny Sackett and Tyler too. "
"Fred thank you for being a positive and wonderful influence in our lives. We will always carry the memories of you with us. You will be sadly missed. R.I.P. Cayden "
"I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm thankful to Fred for being a wonderful boyscout leader. For his patience and kindness to my family. My boys have learned so much through him in scouts and will continue to carry that out in thier futures. He gave so much of his time to helping others and it didn't go unnoticed. The world has lost a beautiful soul but has gained another angel. Fred will be sadly missed. Our condolences to the family. May you rest in peace Fred and thank you for all you've done for so many ? ?? "