Frederick William Schlueter

Born April, 5th 1926 - November, 17th 2020
Chicago, Ill.

Fred was born and raised in Chicago. He was a junior in high school when he enlisted in the Navy for the duration of World War II. While at Camp Peary Virginia he volunteered for a new branch of naval training which later became the Navy Seals. He saw combat in the Marianas, Saipan, and Tinian and was awarded the bronze star twice for valor under fire. At the wars end he opted out as a Gunner's Mate 2nd Class. He kept his military ties the rest of his life.
After the war he settled in Northern California finding work in the logging industry as a timber faller. He was staying in a cabin on a ranch owned by Della Frederich in the mountains along the Trinity River when Della's niece, Patricia Stockel came to visit. The met and married and had two sons Stock and Jim Schlueter. They built a house for his new family not far from the ranch on land that Della sold them for one dollar. When the boys were of age to go to school they moved from Burnt Ranch to Willow Creek and took over Stockton's Store for a few years. They found the store left no time for the family outings they loved, and he went back to falling timber.
Fred loved this new life away from the city. He adapted quickly to the country lifestyle of hunting, fishing, the wood stove and the axe, and developed a love for the natural world. He believed deeply in the "Family Unit" and stressed working together in every aspect. That meant fun as well as work. Camping, backpacking, rock hounding, bottle digging, joined hunting and fishing as regular family activities. His commitment to family values was unwavering.
He moved on from falling timber in mid 70's. Developed and ran a road construction company in the late 70's. Then he moved on to real estate, and became involved in the Willow Creek Community Service District In the eighties bought an old service station and turned it into a Mimi Mart.
August 9th 1974, he was remarried to Roberta Chilton who had three sons and a daughter from her previous marriage. Raymond, Jimmie, Jeff and Connie.
In 1999 he left Willow Creek and moved to Redding where he became involved in the VFW Post 9650 in Anderson, CA. He served as Post commander from 2007-2010, and was a member of the Honor Guard through 2018. He and his wife Roberta are interred at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, CA.
94 years is a long full life, there is time for many adventures, wins and losses, swings of mood and attitude, changes of direction, reflection and realizations. Fred was one of the few who did things his own way while maintaining a sense of compassion and empathy. He meant a great deal to many people and shall be remembered fondly. He would have us not mourn his passing, but celebrate a life well lived.