Frederick John Specht

Born on November 5, 1946, in Detroit, MI, Fred was adopted by Frank and Marcella Specht where he was later joined by his younger sister, Susan. In his teens, his family moved to North St. Paul, MN where he attended Hill (now Hill Murray) High School. Fred later attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where he earned a degree in education and later became a teacher in the St. Paul Public Schools. In a music appreciation class at the university, Fred met a woman named Janet Garner who would later become his beloved wife and mother to his four children. They were married on June 7, 1969, and remained so for 49 years until Janet’s passing in 2018.

Fred taught at Cherokee Heights Elementary School in St. Paul for most of his career, retiring as Vice Principal. He dedicated himself to education, leaving a legacy of hundreds of students he taught, mentored, and coach throughout his life. One of his most proud moments was when his daughter, Jennifer, followed in his footsteps and became an elementary school teacher herself.

Fred loved model trains, sports, and his dogs, but above all he was devoted to his family and spent most of his free time with his children. Some of his greatest joys were taking his boys to their various practices / music events and coaching them on basketball teams, going on excursions to the casino with his daughter, and outings with his wife to estate sales, accumulating way more furniture than a house needs. His greatest pride in life was his family.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife Janet and daughter Jennifer, his parents Frank and Marcella Specht, and his in-laws Joe and Ruth Garner. He is survived by his three sons, Mike (his partner Carrie and two children Norah and Ben), Andy, and Jeff (his wife Laura); his five grandchildren Cody (his wife Sarah), Seth, Wyatt, Noah, and Gracie; his sister Susan and brother-in-law Joe. He will be deeply missed but always remembered by those who knew and loved him.

The Specht Family would like to send our heartfelt thanks to the devoted medical team at Regions Hospital that cared for him in his final moments. God Speed Dad!

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM Thursday, November 6, 2025 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 835 2nd Ave. NW, New Brighton, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to the mass. Interment Sunset Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

The service will be available for live streaming at https://youtube.com/live/iNgU-pgEXTU?feature=share