FRED A. REXUS

Fred Rexus was born to Fred and Tillie Rexus on April 20, 1937, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He died on January 19, 2011, at 11:00 p.m. He was raised in Western Nebraska and Northern Colorado. He graduated from Gilcrest High School in Colorado in 1955.

He enrolled at Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado (now University of Northern Colorado) and graduated in 1959, in Education. He majored in Distributive Education (Now Marketing Education), and at that time elected to seek employment in the State of Washington.

He taught Marketing Education and was a DECA advisor for 33 years. He spent 5 years at Evergreen High School in Seattle. Seven years at Olympia High School, in Olympia. In 1971 he moved his family to Kennewick. He then went to Kamiakin High School teaching Marketing and as the DECA advisor. He found a home at Kamiakin where he spent 21 years in Room 307, and retired in 1992.

He was President of the Washington Association of Marketing Teachers, in 1962 and again in 1989. He was a member of the WDECA Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors twice over the 33 years of teaching.

He was presented the Washington Vocational Association Merit Award in 1984. He was awarded the W DECA Honorary Life Membership in 1983. In 1991 he was awarded the National DECA Honorary Life Membership; at the time he was only one of two classroom teachers to receive this award.

He married Marian Clark Gruger in 1960 (also a former DECA student). They had three children Alison, Andrea and Allen. He chose to live in Eastern Washington where for 22 years he, his wife, and kids had a 50 acre farm on South Oak, in South Kennewick. They raised alfalfa, cattle and horses. The alfalfa and cattle were his, the horses his wife and kids.

After retirement from teaching and farming, he and his wife built a home on 53rd and Olympia, where they could see all of Kennewick, and the surrounding area from their living room, where they lived for 15 years. He kept busy with his garden and flowers. He also stayed in the cattle business with his daughter Andrea where she and her family lived on 4 acres of what was left of the farm.

His greatest pleasure in life was his family, Kamiakin DECA, and the farm in that order. He was pleased to see his Marketing Students become leaders in both this community or wherever they chose to live. He was always pleased to keep track of his students from all 3 High Schools. Class reunions were always looked forward to.

He leaves behind his wife Marian of 50 years. His daughter Alison (Mark Boyle) and their children Morgan & Sidney. His daughter Andrea (Jeff) Charboneau and their son Cameron, and Andrea's children Kisha Bundrant and Karissa Palmer. Greatgrandchildren Kaell Lane and Makena Bundrant. His son Allen (Rexus) and his sons Adrian James and Nickolas. He is survived by his brother Frank and his wife Cassie. Numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his Parents Fred and Tillie, and his brother Alex.

After traveling for 33 years with his students to various W-DECA and DECA activities it was his wish that on his passing there be a 'Travel Scholarship Fund' established for Kamiakin High School DECA members to be used by the current and future DECA advisors to help with travel expenses for their DECA members.

Memorials should be sent to the Haberling Financial Group, in Care of Ty Haberling, at 1141 North Edison Suite A, Kennewick, Washington, 99336-1434.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at The Living Room Church, 711 W. Vineyard Drive in Kennewick, WA.

The family invites you to sign their online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.