William "Bill" Frederics

Bill joined the U.S. Army in 1970 and proudly served for nine years. With little money in his pocket but no shortage of ambition, he took advantage of the GI Bill to pursue higher education.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Oregon State University in the late 1980s—Go Beavers! He later earned a Master of Science in Systems Management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1990.

After working briefly in the private sector, Bill accepted a civil service internship in the finance office at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. From there, he steadily advanced through a distinguished government career, relocating five times in pursuit of the high standards and goals he set for himself. In 1996, he earned the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation.

Throughout his career, Bill held numerous leadership and management positions, earned several high-level achievement awards, and traveled extensively in support of each government organization he worked for. He earned the respect of his peers and freely gave his respect in return. He was an active member of the Association of Government Accountants, serving as a chapter president for approximately ten years.

In December 2014, Bill retired from government service while working at Headquarters Army Material Command, concluding more than 40 years of dedicated service and contributions to his country.

One of the family's favorite memories is "The Peach Story." After patiently waiting for a prized peach on a backyard tree to ripen, Bill came home one day to find peach remnants in the grass and peach skin stuck in Dolly's teeth. Shocked and heartbroken, he exclaimed, "She ate my peach!" It may have been the only time he was ever truly angry with Dolly.

Later came Louie, a Norwegian Elkhound adopted from a shelter. Renee insisted on naming him after Louie the lizard from the Budweiser commercials, and Bill enthusiastically agreed. Over time, Bill added a "T" to the name, calling him "Louis T." When asked what the "T" stood for, Bill replied, "The." From then on, he was forever known as "Louis T Dog."

Then came Simon, another shelter adoption. The entire family spoiled him shamelessly. Simon quickly trained Bill to respond to his every request. Bill would jokingly say, "Yes, Your Majesty, I'm on my way," or announce, "His Royal Highness wants more treats." Simon remains with the family today and deeply misses his favorite servant.

Bill was a lifelong member of the American Motorcyclist Association, joining in the 1970s. He owned several motorcycles over the years and logged countless miles on his Harleys. He traveled through 36 states and proudly displayed a vest patch with each state colored in as proof of his adventures.

He was an avid reader with interests ranging from science and climate change to health, fitness, and sports. One thing he would undoubtedly be annoyed to have missed was the long-awaited sixth book in the Game of Thrones series.

Bill had a special love for Ireland and its history. What began with a few CDs of Irish music grew into a sizable collection. His favorite was the Celtic Woman 20th Anniversary Edition, which eventually inspired him and Jean to take a dream trip to Ireland in 2024. It became the best vacation of their lives, filled with unforgettable memories, photographs, and enough Irish tea to bring home. Shortly after returning, Bill was already talking about planning the next trip.

An enthusiastic cyclist, Bill participated in several guided bicycle tours, including Texas Hill Country (2014), Ragin' Cajun (2015), and Great Lakes Relaxed (2018), and he rarely complained about the inevitable sore spots that came with the territory.

He enjoyed staying active through gym workouts, stretching, yoga classes, and conversations with friends in the parking lot afterward, often discussing motorcycles and cars. He also enjoyed chatting with neighbors while tending to his yard and gardens. Simon often made sure Bill never stayed in the flowerbeds too long whenever a neighbor stopped by for conversation.

Bill was committed to healthy living and enjoyed organic foods and vegetables. Friends teased him endlessly about "free-range" foods until nearly everything became "free-range"—free-range hot dogs, free-range anything. The joke lasted for years and remained a favorite among friends.

Gardening was one of Bill's greatest passions. No matter where the family moved, one of his first priorities was planning the next garden. He took immense pride in maintaining a beautiful yard. He waged a personal war against weeds, carefully spraying them one at a time before pulling them out because, in his view, weeds had to be truly defeated before removal. His opinions about ornamental grasses and the mess they created could fill an afternoon. After all the hard work, he loved nothing more than sitting outdoors with a cup of tea and enjoying the beauty he had created.

Though calm, cool, and collected by nature, Bill wasn't afraid to speak up when necessary. Family members especially loved retelling the story of a trip to SeaWorld in the mid-1990s. During a dolphin show, a woman stood directly in front of the audience with a large video camera on her shoulder, blocking everyone's view. After politely asking her to move and being ignored, Bill finally declared, "Lady, we paid to watch the dolphin show, not your ass. Take your video recorder and go stand in the aisle." She immediately sat down, and the story became a favorite at family holiday gatherings for years afterward.

Though not a regular churchgoer, Bill carried his Lutheran faith in his heart. He believed education was the foundation and hard work the building blocks for any path in life.

Bill possessed remarkable patience. Whenever Jean became frustrated, he would remind her, "Have patience. Patience is learned."

If asked for a guiding principle, he might have said, "Don't let the birds of paradise poop on your head—wear a hat." More often than not, he followed his own advice.

The hat in his favorite photograph was a Hanna Hat, handmade in Ireland. If you had a spare hour, Bill would happily tell you everything there was to know about it.

Bill is survived by Jean Colwell, his longtime partner and fiancée of more than 33 years; and children, Chris Colwell and Renee Colwell; and their beloved dog, Simon. He is also survived by his sister, Rosie Tanner, and her husband, Rob Tanner; his brother, Ron Pomeroy, and his wife, Susanne Pomeroy; and their families.

Bill's first dog was Dolly, a Border Collie named after one of his most challenging college professors. Dolly was incredibly intelligent and endlessly energetic. Bill spoiled her beyond belief, though he denied it every time it was mentioned.

A deep heartfelt appreciation to the first responders – ambulance crew, firefighters, police officers, Genesis emergency medical team and the neighbors that came to our moment of urgent need.

A memorial service will be held at Weerts Funeral Home on Thursday, June 11th, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation one hour prior at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.