He was 98 years old. Son of Michael and Louise Marquardt (deceased). Brother of Helen Chavos (deceased).
Former husband of Jane (Vouri) Marquardt (deceased) 51 years.
Husband of Antoinette (Tomsic) Marquardt 21 years.
Father of deceased children Kathleen and Randall, and surviving daughter Michelle Marquardt (Mike Gibson) of Anacortes, WA. Stepfather of Linda (David) Pournaras of Fort Myers, FL, Sandra (Roger) Cagle of Fairview, NC, Kathleen Jungers of Blue Springs, MO.
Grandfather of Celeste (Tim) Gibson-O’Neill, Daniel Gibson, Todd (Anne) Burik, Courtney Pournaras, Erin Pournaras, Mika Cagle, Jacob Cagle, Kyle Cagle, Alexandra (Nathan) Neske.
Great Grandfather of Cooper Burik, Crosby Burik, and Emmett Gibson-O’Neill.
Frederick attended public schools in Decatur, IL. Graduated high school in 1941. Attended Coyne Electronics School in Chicago, IL, where he studied electrical equipment and radio.
At the start of WW2 and the draft, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps. He soon was working in electronics and weather equipment in the South Pacific, maintaining weather stations in the war zone. He advanced from Private to Tech Sergeant during this time.
At the end of WW2 he stayed in the Army reserves until the Korean War conflict when he went back into active service. From Korea, then considering the army his career, he went to the Army War College in Carlisle, PA as an electronics tech. While there he was soldier of the year at the college and soldier of the month of The First Army. He then went into the missile program, was promoted to Warrant Officer, served at a missile site in New England and on the inspection team at New England Defense Headquarters. He twice received the Medal of Commendation for outstanding performance of duty.
He retired from the Army in 1967 after 24 years of active service, having risen to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer W3. He moved his family to Florida and worked for four years at Kennedy Space Center in data processing, helping put the first men on the moon. During this time he attended Brevard College, graduating with honors with an Associate Degree in Business Management.
After his final and full retirement in Florida he worked with the Little League as a Player Agent for the city of Satellite Beach, FL for ten years. He started a new chapter of the Disabled Veterans and served as the Commander and Adjutant. He also did voluntary work for the police department of Palm Bay, FL doing finger printing, citizen patrol, and assisting at crime scene investigation.
Fred was a life member of Retired Army Officers and Disabled Veterans. He was a member of The Elks, The Moose Lodge, and The SW Florida Polka Boosters. He was active in his community of Heritage Cove in Fort Myers, FL where he had many loving friends. He was a member of St Cecilias Catholic Church in Fort Myers, FL.
Frederick will be forever remembered by his loved ones as the man who helped land the first man on the moon and lived by NASA’s motto, “Failure is not an option”.
Memorial service will be held at a later time at Fountainhead Memorial Park, Palm Bay, FL.
In lieu of Flowers, the family requests donations to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
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