William M. Friedrichs

Born in Brooklyn, New York, November 24, 1924 of Hugo August Friedrichs and Doris Lucina Mauck Friedrichs, died in Saline, Michigan on September 28, 2021. He attended elementary school in Mount Vernon, NY, and Muncie, Indiana until his father’s terminal illness took the family to Hillsdale, Michigan, where he graduated from high school, in which he was active in Hi-Y, on the school paper and annual, “Tween Towers”, and the student council. After his freshman year at Hillsdale College, he accepted an invitation from the Selective Service Board and entered the Army of the United States. He trained at Camp Lee, Virginia, through basic training and advanced administrative and supply school. Surviving a few replacement depots, he shipped out to India where he held various clerical posts at the Army Rest Camp in the foothills of the Himalayas and at CBI Theater headquarters in New Delhi.

He returned to the United States and was discharged with the rank of Technician Third Grade (T3) and in the fall of 1946 re-entered Hillsdale College. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1949 with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, and received his M.A. in history a year later from the University of Michigan graduate school. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and President of the Kappa Phi Epsilon honorary fraternity. During his senior year at Hillsdale, while a teaching assistant in history, he met Molly Moore of nearby Morenci. They were married in the fall of 1951, moved to Ann Arbor and raised three children: Lisa Olson (married to Kevin), Mona Exinger (married to Michael), and Hans Friedrichs. After his marriage and move to Ann Arbor, he joined the staff of Jacobson Stores, Inc., first in Jackson and then in Ann Arbor where he held several sales and administrative posts, with fifteen years as store manager.

He was an active member of the State Street Merchants Association, the Rotary Club, and the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon. After leaving Jacobson’s, he worked in real estate and then ended his working years with Wedemeyer Electronic Supply Co. In retirement, he and Molly traveled in the United States and had three exciting trips to India, Egypt, and Greece, including a short cruise in the Aegean Sea. For 25 years, he also volunteered in the Red Cross Blood Services program, where he became known as Wild Bill, with his cowboy hat and colorful socks.

Bill is survived by his wife of 70 years, and his three children. Cremation has been arranged by Muehlig Funeral Chapel. Interment at Arborcrest Memorial Garden; there will be no immediate service. Donations may be made to the Ann Arbor chapter of Red Cross or the general Red Cross Blood Bank.