Frederick Louis Wetekamm Jr.

Frederick Louis Wetekamm, Jr., fondly known by everyone as Fred, and Paw to his grandchildren, entered God’s Kingdom on October 9, 2021, at the age of 83. Fred was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 13, 1938, to the late Frederick Louis Wetekamm, Sr. and Lillian Antoinette Bonck, both of New Orleans. Fred grew up in New Orleans and in his youth was nicknamed “Happy” by his friends because of his relentless cheerful and fun nature. Fred’s family moved to Metairie where he attended Metairie High, then the newly built East Jefferson High through graduation in 1958. It was at Metairie High where Fred first met Barbara Ann Tassin. After they dated for four years, Fred married his high school sweetheart, Barbara, in 1959 becoming his beloved wife of 62 years. They were passionate about each other and dancing together and have been inseparable since day one.

Being a child of World War II, Fred followed his father and uncle into the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1956 while still in high school, including training in New London, Connecticut initially as a Submariner, then assigned to Destroyer ships. After high school, Fred served his active duties at Naval Station Mayport near Jacksonville Beach, Florida and in Charleston, South Carolina as a Seaman on Destroyers, including a role supporting NASA’s Mercury rocket launch recovery program, concluding his active duty on the USS Power (DD 839). Following an Honorable Discharge to the Navy Reserve in 1961, Fred and Barbara returned home to New Orleans to start a family, which included four sons: Frederick Louis III, Jeffrey Lynn, Matthew Lee, and Stephen Leslie.

Fred again followed his father’s footsteps, opting for a career in public transportation where he worked for New Orleans Public Service (NOPSI), then Regional Transit Authority (RTA), as a bus driver and streetcar driver, until moving into an office role as a Route Scheduler where he used his impeccable ability of order and precision with time management to help make the transit system run more efficiently. Fred retired from RTA with more than 30 years of service.

Through Fred’s later years, he and Barbara were blessed with ten grandchildren: Kale Frederick (Kate), Zachary Frederick, and Jamie Kay [Frederick-Laurie]; Amanda Lynn [Jeffrey-Lillian], Nikki Elizabeth [Jeffrey-Robin], Anthony Ryan and Joshua Tadeo [Matthew-Jessica], and Camille Simone, Olivia Jolie, and Evan Michael [Stephen-Melanie]. More recently Fred and Barbara were further blessed with five great-grandchildren: Joseph Michael, Jyron Michael, Rylie Elizabeth, Anna Kathryn {Ryn}, and William Frederick.

Fred loved to travel with his beloved Barbara, taking numerous vacations with their sons in tow, and in later years traveling with their grandchildren, as well as attending their sporting events, band concerts, parades, dance recitals, and cheerleading events. Family parties and sleepovers for the grandkids became a routine. Fred and Barbara loved to go to Disney World, visiting numerous times, as well as taking many other trips, including traveling to all 48 contiguous States and Canada through the years. Fred enjoyed camping, dancing, cooking, crawfish boils, working in his yard, decorating his front yard for Christmas like Clark Griswold, and improvising his Birthday and Father’s Day card readings with the unique and humorous touch only he could create.

Fred’s greatest loves were spending time with his dearest Barbara, dancing every morning with her, and getting together with family for any occasion. Fred’s biggest joy was making all people laugh. He did not want to be the center of attention, but he did not shy away from a quick quip, turn of a phrase, or outright surprising joke upon entering or exiting the scene. By his nature, Fred made friendly acquaintances at all shops, offices, and businesses he would frequent, where patrons and employees alike would light up when seeing him. Fred’s absence from all these places, and especially family gatherings, will be sorely missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Friday, November 5, 2021 at Grace Funeral Home & St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial Garden, 450 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, Louisiana 70433. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, followed by a Memorial Service and Inurnment. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.gracenorthshore.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in Fred’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or Children’s Hospital of New Orleans (www.chnola.org).