Frederick Henry Biere (1927-2021)

BIERE, RIX, STANDING, HENDERSON, POOLE

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/5/2021 at 21:14:07

DODGEVILLE, WI-Frederick Henry Biere, lately of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 24 after a brief illness.

He was born November 10, 1927, in Olin, Iowa, son of Henry Frederick Biere and Minnie Rix Biere. He grew up on a small farm as the fourth of six children, and spent many hours working in the fields and doing farm chores. He graduated from Olin High School. After a brief time in college, Fred served in the Navy and went to radio school in 1945. After service he resumed his studies at the University of Iowa where he met the love of his life, Jean Standing. He earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from UI and after he and Jean were married they settled in Muscatine, Iowa where he went to work as an electrical engineer for Stanley Consultants.

He retired in 1989 after a more than 40 year career working with electrical distribution. He remembered vividly, as a 10 year old, the day that electric service came to the farm, and the amazing technical progress that had transformed the country during his working life. He had a deep faith in God, and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Muscatine.

After retirement he and Jean lived for many happy years in Naples, Florida. They became members of Vanderbilt Presbyterian church and treasured their church connections. During their retirement years Fred and Jean traveled extensively together and enjoyed time with friends and family. Fred was a man with a big heart who never had an unkind word for anyone. He had a very competitive spirit and enjoyed tennis, ping pong and especially winning at cribbage. He loved swing music and listening brought back great memories of dancing to the big bands. His first concern was always for his family. He really enjoyed staying in touch with his friends and classmates. In his last year he made many new friends in Wisconsin but never stopped rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Jean S. Biere, his brothers Howard (Helen) Biere, Raymond (Irene) Biere, and Norman (Bernita) Biere. He is survived by his beloved brother Henry (Karen) Biere, and sister Doris ( Bill) Henderson, his children Paul (Ginger Brand) Biere of Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Peter (Sherry) Biere, of Vero Beach, Florida, and Jane (Wes) Poole of Beech Mountain, N.C., by his grandchildren Ashley, Peter Austin, Laura, Nicholas, Hannah, and Amelia, and by his beautiful great-grandsons Levi, Sullivan, and Charlie. We celebrate his long and productive life, and remember his selfless love and devotion to family. A private ceremony and interment at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky is planned at a later date.

Published by The Muscatine Journal on Sep. 2, 2021.