Fred L. Alexander

Freddie Leland Alexander, son of Leland and Edith Fern (Farnsworth) Alexander, was born on July 29, 1939, at Grant City, Missouri. He entered into eternal rest on Friday, March 9, 2012, at the Clarinda Regional Medical Center in Clarinda, Iowa, at the age of 72. His early life was spent in the Grant City area. At the age of five, his family moved to Farragut, Iowa. Fred attended the Farragut Community Schools, graduating from Farragut High School with the Class of 1958. Fred was known for his athletic prowess and was a star running back for the Farragut Admiral Football Team. He also participated in Track, Basketball, Band, Choir, FFA, Student Council and Drama. Upon graduation from high school, Fred attended Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri, where he also played football. In 1954, at the young age of 15, Fred joined the National Guard. He was a reserve until 1963. On November 27, 1958, Fred was united in marriage to the love of his life, Dorothy Rae Kruse, at the Congregational Church in Farragut. Following their marriage they resided in Tarkio and Sabetha, Kansas before moving to Essex, Iowa. Throughout his high school and college years, Fred g...[more]

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ed and delivered eggs for Howard's Feed and Produce in Farragut. He would grade the eggs and then give the customer a price slip, which they would take to the local grocery store to trade for food goods. The summer following graduation from high school, Fred went to Walla Walla, Washington to work for Green Giant. Upon returning from Washington and marrying Dorothy, Fred worked as a farmhand in Tarkio before moving to Sabetha, Kansas, where he worked on a dairy farm. Fred and Dorothy moved to Essex in 1963, where he went to work at Johnson Brothers Mills until his retirement in 2006. Fred was a volunteer fireman in Essex for several years. He also served 16 years on the Essex City Council. He also played Santa Claus for several years, which he enjoyed very much. His last year of playing Santa, he was wearing a cast on his foot, and some children at the day care center asked him, "What happened?" He told them Rudolph had stepped on his toe. In his spare time, Fred enjoyed woodworking in his garage and spending time in his vegetable and flower gardens. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. Preceding Fred in death were his parents; two brothers, Rufus and Bobby; three sisters, Mary Naico, Laura Johnston and Edna Mae Alexander; and a granddaughter, Jodi. Those left to honor his memory include his loving wife of 53 years, Dorothy; five children, Jim Alexander and wife Rhonda of Essex, Shari Meier and husband Steve of Essex, Barb Greever and husband Phil of College Springs, Rhonda Summers and husband Mike of Clarinda, and Kathy Brown and husband Ted of Essex; seven grandchildren, Jason Meier and wife Tiffany of Glenwood, Jame Greever and fiancé Corey Vaughn of Nebraska, Kayla Kraeger of Essex, Cassie Sunderman and husband Levi of Clarinda, Bobbi Jo Kraeger of Essex, Karli Jo Cox and husband Zachary of Iowa, Tanner Summers and friend Chandal of Clarinda; five great grandchildren, Brittany Meier, Courtney Meier, Brayden Kraeger, Carson Sunderman and Kaedyn Summers, who will be arriving in May; three sisters, Vonceille Simmerman of Nebraska City, Minnie Brown of Hamburg and Sharon Naico of Texas; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. Memorials may be directed to the Essex Cemetery Board.