Obituary of Fredrick W. Wolfe

Fredrick William Wolfe, a World War II veteran, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness, on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. He was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest child of Casper and Margaret Wolfe (nee Reck) on July 17, 1926. He graduated Fenger High School in 1944 and enlisted in the United States Navy at 17 years old, received his basic training in Seattle and Honolulu and was shipped out to the Pacific Theater as a Pharmacists Mate 1st class on the USS Mayfield. He saw action at the Battle of Okinawa and during the campaign to liberate the Philippines. He was honorably discharged at the end of World War II as a Hospital Apprentice 2nd class. He, like many other veterans, hitchhiked his way back home from California. He married his loving wife and lifelong partner, whom he met on a blind date, Shirley Ann Richardson on May 7, 1949. They had three children Craig, Kurt, and Susan, and 66 wonderful years together. In 1950, he began a lengthy and successful career in the insurance industry, retiring in 1991 from the Gallagher/Basset Insurance Services Company, a division of the Arthur J. Gallagher Company, as a Vice President/Officer and Executive General Adjustor. He was one of the founding employees of Gallagher/Bassett Insurance Services. He was an avid golfer, having made four holes-in-one and achieving a single digit handicap. He was a 20 year member of the Rolling Hills Golf Club in Longwood, Florida and served as its president for many years. Upon moving from the Orlando area to Melbourne, he joined the Suntree Country Club, where he served on several committees. He was also a past president of the Quail Point Homeowners Association. Always a talented handyman, he frequently had many home projects going, which included woodworking and furniture refinishing. He built several garages at his many homes; painted, paneled and wallpapered like a professional, did brick work on barbecues and floors, and also restored a Ford Model T. An avid reader and an excellent card player, he was especially good at poker, and spent some of his youthful years in Chicago neighborhood pool halls (which he didn+óGé¼Gäót talk much about). Fredrick is survived by his loving and beautiful wife Shirley Ann Richardson Wolfe; his children Craig, Kurt (Marcy), and Susan Ericson (Harry); his grandchildren Katharine Baran (Michael), Bryan, Thomas, Jesstine, Kelsey, Patrick, Cory Ericson, and Kyle Ericson (Annie); his siblings Paul (Patricia) of Cleveland, Ohio and Gwendolyn McEvoy of Bennington, Nebraska; many nieces and nephews; and his one great grandchild Jakob Fredrick Baran, born September 4, 2015. The family wishes to thank the staff of Town Square Assisted Living, Viera Health and Rehab Center, and Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice Care for their professional and compassionate care.The family will have a private memorial service.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to DonorsChoose.org to fund books for under privileged students. Under +óGé¼+ôfind a classroom+óGé¼-¥ enter Annie Ericson.