Frederick Urban Waikem

1933-2025

Obituary

Frederick Urban Waikem went to the lord on Monday, February 24, 2025. Fred was born to the late Frank & Helen Waikem on March 2, 1933, in Canton, Ohio. Fred attended Massillon High School and was a member of the Massillon Tigers Football team from 1948-1950, coached by the late Chuck Mather, winning three straight State Titles. Fred was very proud of his being a member of the team and his association with all of his teammates. After he graduated from Massillon High, he attended Ohio State University and joined the ROTC while attending college and was a Deke Fraternity member. He graduated in 1955 and carrying on in his father’s footsteps (who served in France during WWI) he entered the US Air Force and became a commissioned officer in 1956. Fred was a pilot in the USAF and served for 22 years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his time in the Air Force, he forged many relationships with friends that lasted a lifetime. He served two tours in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and retired in San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife traveled the world while being stationed in Zaragoza, Spain. He came back to the U.S. mainland in 1963 to be stationed in Columbus, Ohio for four years before being transferred to Omaha, Nebraska. His final assignment was at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, where he ultimately retired in 1978.

While at Massillon High, Fred met his soulmate, Sue Viola (Greet) Waikem and they married in 1955 and had four children. His wife of 65 years passed on November 9, 2020, and is with the Lord. Fred was a man of conviction and high integrity. A man who enjoyed being around friends and family. His relationships were deep. He would always offer help and advice, enjoyed good music, his nightly martini and had a wonderful sense of humor, always good for the one liner. Fred lived life the way he wanted to live it. Fred was a loving husband, father to four children, grandfather to six children and great grandfather to five great-grandchildren. He is survived by his Son Tim Waikem and his wife, Vanessa and their two children, Nick Waikem and Ryan Waikem and his child, Ellie Sue Waikem, son Greg Waikem and his daughter Nicole McFarland and her husband James and their two sons Luke and Jacob his daughter Staci Waikem and her two sons, Frankie J and Jaxson, his daughter, Cynthia Waikem and her companion of 15 years Greg Babcock, her son Christopher Hanson, and daughter Morgan Hanson and her husband Rhys, and his youngest son Dr. Pat Waikem and his wife, Melissa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Viola Waikem, his sister, Freda Adore, and her husband Frank Adore. Fred is now with our Lord in his Kingdom and reunited with his wife and will be greatly missed by family and friends.