Karl-Heinz Friederich

FIREDERICH, BUCHE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 9/26/2015 at 12:48:04

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Born in Mainz, Germany, on March 13, 1929, to Mathias and Barbara Friederich, Karl-Heinz was shaped by the political and social climate of the time, as well as the subsequent devastation to his home and country in WWII. Although stricken with polio during the war, Karl recovered sufficiently to row with the German national team in 1948. That same year, Karl’s father returned from the Russian POW camp, where he, unbeknownst to his family, had been interned since 1945. With his English skills honed in service to the US Army after the war, Karl received a scholarship to study at Creighton University. He disembarked the Anna Selen in New York and boarded a train for Omaha with $40 in his pocket in 1951. While at Creighton, Karl met and married Teresa Buche in 1952. Over their 63 years together, Karl, Teresa, and their children Charles, Catherine, John, Barbara, and James created lasting memories in a variety of homes throughout the US, as well as during Karl’s Fulbright year in Germany. After completing his PhD work at the University of Wisconsin in 1967, Karl joined the faculty of the journalism department at Iowa State University, from which he retired in 1992.

A man of deep conviction, love of his adopted and birth countries, and passion for politics and service to others, Karl filled his retirement years to overflowing with bridge (Life Master), gardening, mentoring and tutoring international students and refugees, volunteering (serving on the boards of Youth and Shelter Services, Friendship Ark Homes, Israel Family Hospice House, Mary Greeley Medical Center) and the ever-present political activities (election judge, chairman of the Story County Republican Party) that had begun with his involvement in the AU-H2O campaign of 1961 before Karl was even able to vote in the US elections (citizenship gained in 1963).

Lifted up in prayer by his family, Karl-Heinz Friederich drew his last breath while his beloved Jeopardy aired in the background in Columbus, GA, on August 28, 2015. He will be profoundly missed by his wife, children, 15 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of your choice or the endowment for the Monsignor James Supple Chair of Catholic Studies at Iowa State University.

A Mass of Christian Burial
OCT 17. 10:30 AM
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church & Catholic Student Center
2210 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA, US, 50010

http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
 

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