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March 25, 2012

George R. Fredrickson

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NORTHPORT — George Robert Fredrickson, 90, of Northport, passed away March 22, 2012, at Northport Highlands.

George was born April 7, 1921, in Traverse City, the son of Nels and Christine (Garthe) Fredrickson. On Sept. 15, 1948, at the Presbyterian Church in Omena, he married school mate, Elaine (Southwell) Fredrickson, who survives.

He lived on Fredrickson Farm, which his grandfather, Andrew Fredrickson, established in 1886.

George graduated from Northport High School in 1938 and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1940.

George served on ships for seven years during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He picked up LST-764 at Pittsburg, Pa. In 1944 he was a Chief Quartermaster. George piloted LST-764 down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. He got the crew down the Gulf through the Panama Canal to the Pacific and up to San Diego and joined the 4th Marine Division in Hawaii. From there LST-764 put Marines ashore at the amphibious landings of Saipan and Iwo Jima. George and his crew supplied Marines for 86 days and gave the Marines U.S. Flag from the ship and watched them put the first flag up on Mt. Suribachi. He and LST-764 went to Korea until the end of the war and back to Hawaii, Panama Canal, and "moth-balled" ships in the swamp at Lake Charles, La. George then went to the North Atlantic for weather patrols. George was honorably discharged in late 1947 to his family farm.

He was a lifelong fruit farmer, past Master for Northport Masonic Lodge, drove Northport School buses, was an original member of the Leelanau Memorial Hospital Board and served for 20 years. He served on the Cherryland Rural Electric board, was Leelanau Township supervisor and the Leelanau County Treasurer for 12 years from 1968 to 1980. After he retired from County Treasurer he served on the County Board of Commissioner for four years. He was an original board member for the Grand Traverse Lighthouse and a member of Trinity Church U.C.C. for 62 years.

George is survived by his wife, Elaine; his two children, Gary (Carol) Fredrickson, of Northport, and Deanne (Michael) Richter, of Suttons Bay; six grandchildren, Gregory (Dee), of Northport, Nels (Kathy), of Hudsonville, and Christine Fredrickson, of Traverse City; Jonathan (Carrie), of Suttons Bay, Joshua (AnnaElise Chartier), of Traverse City, and Melissa Richter, of Nashville, Tenn.; six great-grandchildren, Grant, Elizabeth and Davis Fredrickson, of Northport, Owen and Tristan Fredrickson, of Hudsonville, and Brynlee Richter and friend, Emmelyn Chartier, of Traverse City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Randa; and granddaughter, Randa Marie.

Cremation has taken place. There will be no service at this time. A visitation celebrating his life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684; The Northport Promise, PO Box 818, Northport, MI 49670; and/or to the Leelanau Co. Veterans Memorial, 8527 E. Government Center Dr., Suite 101, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.

Please share memories with the family on George's online guestbook at www.record-eagle.com/obituaries/.

Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

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