Fred Schuiteboer

When it came to Fredrick Schuiteboer, he was as hard working as they come, yet he realized that there was much more to life than work, too. He was a family man through and through who made sure that his family had the things they needed and enough left over for a little fun. Although life was not without hardship for Fred, he made the most of what life brought him while brightening the days of those around him. He was a quiet man, but he never hesitated to offer a smart remark when one was fitting. Fred’s life spanned times of war and times of peace, times of plenty and times of want that all worked together to shape him into the remarkable man who was dearly loved by many.

With the end of WWI in 1918, our nation was ushered into a time of prosperity that was fueled by innovation and advancements in technology that were greatly changing the landscape of everyday life. New radio stations were bursting onto the airwaves daily, the first transcontinental air mail flight arrived in New York City from San Francisco, and Albert Einstein was making strides in the world of science like never before. It was also during this time that the family of John and Jennie (Hiemstra) Schuiteboer celebrated the birth of their son, Fredrick, on August 13, 1921. Fred was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as the oldest of four children in his family. Although he was born in Kalamazoo, Fred was raised in nearby Plainwell where his father owned Schuiteboer Dairy, a local milk processing operation, while his mother stayed home. Fred enjoyed a rather typical childhood for the youth of his generation and attended local schools.

On October 29, 1929, America was forever changed with the crash of the stock market that sent our country into the grip of the Great Depression for the following decade. Many young people during this time left school before completing their education in order to find work and Fred was no exception as he left school after the eighth grade. He worked at the family dairy business as a milkman throughout his working days until he retired in 1979.

A new chapter in Fred’s life began when as a young man he met the woman with whom he would establish a family. Her name was Reda Thompson and after dating for a time, the couple was married. Not long after he became a husband, Fred served his country in the United States Army during WWII. Together with his wife, Fred was blessed with two sons, Steve and Don. They raised their children in Plainwell where Fred called home throughout the majority of his life.

Although he worked hard to support his family, Fred also took time to enjoy himself. He bowled on numerous leagues over the years, and he was passionate about playing cards. It was even said that Fred would play any card game as long as it was with a full deck. He enjoyed woodworking and made several cabinets over his lifetime. Fred was also great at tinkering and was able to fix just about anything. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Plainwell. Fred was also a member of the Teamster’s Union and continued to carry his card until the time of his death.

Life took an unwelcome turn for Fred with the death of his wife Reda in 1980. Although he was deeply saddened with her death, he drew strength from his family and his faith during the days following her death. Fred was blessed to find love for a second time with a woman named Jean Arendson. After falling in love, Fred and Jean married in 1982, and they enjoyed many happy years together. Soon after Jean died in January of this year, Fred’s own health began to decline, and he drew his last breath just a few months later.

Fredrick Schuiteboer was usually quiet and reserved, but he greatly impacted the lives of those he knew and loved. He had a great sense of humor and a quick wit that usually came out in the form of a smart remark. Fred worked hard throughout his life, but took time to drink in some fun along the way as well. He leaves behind a lifetime of precious memories that will be forever cherished by those he shared his life with. Fred will be dearly missed.

Fredrick Schuiteboer of Plainwell died April 30, 2010 at Dussia House. Fred’s family includes his sons Steve (Mary) Schuiteboer, Don Schuiteboer, his grandchildren Amy Schuiteboer, John (Dee) Schuiteboer, his great-grandchildren Tristan and Cody, his sister Linda (Jack) Mitchell, his stepchildren Judy (Jerry) Genther, Doug Arendson, 6 step-grandchildren, 8 step-great grandchildren and many other relatives. Fred was preceded in death by his first wife Reda in 1980, his second wife Jean in 2010, his brothers Gerald “Jerry” & Martin “Mike” Schuiteboer, and two nephews Jerry & Dirk Schuiteboer. Visit with his family and friends, view his life story film and share light refreshments on Monday from 4:00 to 7:00 at Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 S. Woodhams (685-5881). A Funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Plainwell. Please visit Fred’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo, sign his memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to Southern Care Hospice or West Michigan Cancer Center.