Robert O. Frederick (2003)

FISHER, FREDERICK, MANVILLE, NEMECEK, VANOUS

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 3/13/2006 at 18:02:13

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Robert Frederick, Winterset

Robert O. Frederick, 89, of Winterset, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, at Winterset Care Center South.

A memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 27, at the First United Methodist Church in Winterset with Pastor Robert Barrick officiating. A private family inurnment was at Winterset Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Winterset, Middle River Hospice or the American Diabetes Association. Ochiltree Funeral Service & Aftercare of Winterset was in charge of arrangements.

Robert was born Jan. 6, 1914, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Joseph and Lillian (Vanous) Frederick. His marriage to Phoebe Jane Nemecek took place on May 30, 1941, in Cedar Rapids.

Robert graduated from Coe College magna cum laude in 1936 and received his J.D. degree from the University of Iowa Law College in 1940. He came to Winterset in June of 1940 to begin his law practice. In January of 1942, he was appointed as an FBI agent, serving four years. After returning to Winterset, he resumed his legal career. He was a member of the Madison County Bar Association, the Fifth Judicial District Bar Association and the Tax Committee of the Iowa State Bar Association, serving as chairman of that committee. Robert also served two terms as county attorney of Madison County. In 1967, he was appointed as a district court judge of the Fifth Judicial District of Iowa, serving 16 counties. During this period, he served as a member of a joint legislature committee of the Iowa State Legislature, completing a revision of the Divorce Law of Iowa. After 15 years on the bench, he retired as a district court judge and elected to serve an additional 10 years as a senior judge until he reached the mandatory age of retirement for senior judges.

In addition to his legal career, Robert served as a member of the Winterset School Board for eight years and was very much involved in the reorginization of the Winterset School District from 21 independent school districts in Madison County to the Winterset Community School District. A member of the Winterset Rotary for over 45 years, he helped sponsor a chapter of the American Field Service in Winterset, hosting Winterset's first foreign student. He was a Past Patron of Eastern Star and a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member for more than 50 years. Robert was very active in the Republican Party in past years and had served as county chairman. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he had served as chairman of the Finance and Stewardship Committee.

In 1996, Robert was awarded the Coe College Alumni Award of Merit for his distinction in his profession and giving back to the community and Coe College.

He is survived by his wife, Phoebe of Winterset; two sons, Ronald A. Frederick and wife, Marie of Temecula, Calif., and Steven R. Frederick and wife Cheryl of Saugerties, N.Y. ; two granddaughters, Nancy E. Frederick of Raleigh, N.C. and Sara J. Fisher and husband Shane of Marietta, Calif.; one great-grandson, Nolan Fisher and a sister, Catherine Manville of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Joseph.

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