Jerry Fredericksen

Jerry was a gentle giant man through and through. A loving companion, he earned a wealth of abundant memories and special moments over the years with the family he so loved. There is no doubt that his wisdom and guidance will be deeply missed by his children, grandchildren, and those he leaves behind.

With the economy still suffering as a result of the Great Depression, Manuel and Elsie M. (Presler) welcomed home their first son, Gerald Wayne, on April 26, 1934, in Frontier County, Nebraska. Born in the same bed as his mother, his birth brought a special joy to their hearts and home. He was followed by the birth his brother Harold Lee in June of 1942, who passed at age 12.

Jerry’s early childhood years were lean times in the dustbowl of Nebraska. The family lost their farm when he was young and relocated to Depew, New York where his father found work at Curtiss Wright Aviation supporting the effort to build the Navy’s SB2C Helldiver Bombers; American single-engine, dual seater with a pilot and tail gunner all-metal fighter-bomber, in Buffalo, New York.

Jerry attended local schools graduating with the Class of 1952 from Depew High School. Jerry was an exceptional student and excelled in sports competing in football, track, wrestling and baseball. After high school, Jerry enrolled at Bethany College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business Administration with an emphasis on Psychology. He earned the nickname “Bull” when he was seen by his football teammates snorting and mooing like a bull at the cows in the pasture next to the football field. Jerry was the President of the Phi Kapa Tau fraternity his senior year and had many adventures with his frat brothers. His athletic talents excelled in football where he was awarded the Bethany College outstanding athlete of the school year 1955-56. He was later inducted into the Bethany Hall of Fame in in 1981. Jerry overcame great odds in his younger days and never took anything for granted throughout his life.

Jerry met his future wife, Celeste Mastropieri, while he was working at US Steel in Cleveland, Ohio. She worked in the accounting office. There was an instant connection between them when he helped her put up the top on her convertible car one morning. A romance soon blossomed. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Celeste and Jerry were married in Garfield Heights on May 27, 1961. Together, they raised three wonderful boys, Gerald Jr., Manuel, and Karl. They were married for 63 years as of Celeste’s passing last March.

Although theirs was a traditional family dynamic where the man worked and the mother raised the kids and kept the home, Jerry was very involved in the boys’ lives. As boys they liked to play all day, but when they heard his ear piercing whistle, they knew it was time to get home! He modeled for them patience, forgiveness and perseverance. Jerry’s athleticism rubbed off on his boys as they all played a variety of sports. All 3 were wrestlers at the high school level and Karl wrestled at the college level. He also encouraged them in any endeavors they took interest in such as playing an instrument, horseback riding, swimming lessons, and any other extracurricular activity they showed aptitude. Most activities involved all three boys. The way was if one boy got something they all did. When it was time for a bike all three got a bike, or a skateboard, or summer camp, or whatever.

Jerry loved to garden and turned the 20’ x 80’ plot in the back of his home into a vegetable paradise. The boys would help him rototill, weed and plant season after season. His crops included green beans, zucchini, squash, beets, onions, lettuce, garlic, carrots, basil and oregano. Jerry brought organic food to the table before it was fashionable, and Celeste was keeping the pots hot, cooking and canning on a regular basis. He planted popcorn and called it “Fredenbacher” and grew massive sunflowers 13’ tall. His boys bonded with him over chocolate milkshakes or cups of coffee as they grew older using these small moments to build lasting memories with them. He had a passion for chocolate ice cream and always had plenty of cartons in the freezer.

As graduate of Dale Carnegie, he knew how to win friends and influence people and was impeccable in his choice of words. When he did speak up it was usually important and held value. His family always knew they could come to him and trusted his advice and guidance. He was stoic and understood the power of speaking last. Yet personable and gave the best hugs ever. Although he had a dry sense of humor, he loved a good joke and when he got to know you, he could be a barrel of laughs.

After four strategic relocations, Eaton Corporation brought Jerry to their Galesburg location in 1978 as a purchasing and quality control manager in the axel, brake and transmission divisions. The family settled in Portage where they lived for 48 years. During these years providing for his family, he traveled to seventeen countries touring foundries to find good steel at a reasonable price. Some of these trips led him to South Korea, Russia, Prague, Hungary, Budapest, Brazil, Argentina, England, and Germany. Celeste would often travel with him on these work trips. During these trips, they opened up to the world of travel. Jerry was very proud to retire by the age of 62 and was retired for 29 years. In their later years he and Celeste continued their love of exploring the world around them. In 2000, the entire family enjoyed a memorable trip to the small town of Orsara Di Puglia, Italy, the hometown of Celeste’s family and conclude with 2 weeks in Rome. Jerry's hard work and planning afforded Celeste and his boys a beautiful life together.

In addition to his career and role as a husband and father, Jerry held many special interests. He was a savvy negotiator in business or personally and loved finding deals on his cars and trucks. He kept his home, tools, and equipment in meticulous condition. He enjoyed a good glass of Cabernet Sauvigon. His ability to be a step ahead of his opponent made him very tactical in playing strategic games like bridge. Jerry spent time on quality engineering boards and loved to engage in any conversation about manufacturing. He was an avid coin and stamp collector which satisfied his need to keep order and have everything in its place. Jerry loved to keep everything organized and took care of everything around the family home. Above all else, Jerry loved his growing family including seven grandchildren. Nothing brought him more happiness than spending time with those he loved. Jerry was a remarkable person to know, and his memories live on in the hearts of his many special friends and loved ones.

Gerald Wayne Fredericksen, Sr., age 91, died at Provisions Living of Kalamazoo on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Members of his family include his 3 children; Gerald Jr. (Michelle), San Marcos, CA, and Brayden, Longmont, CO, Manuel (Emily), Elsie, Henry, and Sadie, Kalamazoo, MI, and Karl (Tiffany), Olivia, Ian, Xander, and Brody, Holland, MI. Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Celeste on March 14, 2025, and his brother, Harold Lee Fredericksen.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 3-6 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. Celebrate Jerry’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.