Services
Obituary
Fred Elmer Trager, age 91, of Latimer, passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at the Franklin General Nursing Facility in Hampton.
Funeral services for Fred Trager will be 10:30 AM, Monday, February 6, 2006 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer with Pastor John Byrne officiating. Burial will be in the Marion Center Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, February 5, 2006 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Immanuel United Church of Christ, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.
Fred Elmer Trager was born March 12, 1914, near Belmond to Emil and Tena (Groen) Trager. He was bapized in the Emmanuel Reformed Church near Belmond. Fred received his education in the rural schools near Belmond. He farmed with his father for several years in Belmond area.
On June 9, 1938 he married Mildred R. Barth at the Marion Center Evangelical parsonage with the Revered C. J. Barth, Mildred’s father, presiding. Fred and Mildred farmed near Alexander for over 57 years and raised three children: Robert, Rosemary, and Vergene.
They were always generous in sharing what they had with others. An example of their generosity came to light about three years ago when Hans Gaensler, who was a child in Germany in the 1940s following the war, located them via the Internet to thank them for their gifts of food and clothing that Fred and Mildred has sent them during those difficult years after the war. They lived a conservative, honest, and Christian lifestyle. Hard work was the foundation of their lives.
During retirement years, Fred and Mildred enjoyed some traveling, often visiting Vergene in Phoenix, and visiting relatives along the way. They were frequently seen at a variety of area community events, including Little League games, cards parties, and celebrations of all kinds. They frequently visited the sick, elderly, and shut-in and they were always generous with cards and food during sad times, fresh garden produce during the summer, and Christmas cookies during the holidays.
Fred was involved in community and church activities. He was known for his quick smile and he loved to tease others and be teased himself. He was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer, having served as a Deacon, Elder, and member of Church Council.
In recent years, he took care of his wife prior to her death. He lived in the Nursing Facility at Franklin General Hospital the last two years of his life where he made a lot of friends among the staff and residents.
Fred is survived by his three children: Robert Lee (Nancy) Trager of Hampton; Rosemary Elaine Matthews of Emmetsburg; Vergene Herbert Trager of Phoenix, AZ. He has five grandchildren: Jill Trager, Ames; Eric (Penny) Trager, Audubon; Sarah (Thomas) Grable, Pittsburg, CA; Melvin Matthews, Farmington, NM; and Sarah Baxter, Manning. He has 10 great-grandchildren: Jessica and Shelby Trager; Brittany, Nathan, and Christian Baxter; Christy, Ben, Kylee, Alexander, and Breanna Matthews. Other survivors include 1 sister, Irene McMannus of Belmond and sisters-in-law, Bertha Trager of Meservey and Faye Trager of Rowen.
Fred was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; his parents, Emil and Tena Trager; four brothers, August, Henry, Carl, and Elmer, and one sister, Henrietta Kaduce; and one great grandchild.