Fred Haunreiter

Fred Haunreiter, long time Chehalis resident, passed away Monday, December 7, 2009. He was 83 and had lived at Guest Only Care Center for over 6 years where he was treated with great dignity and love by his many caregivers.
Frederick Thomas Haunreiter was born in Winlock September 22, 1926, the fourth child of Jacob Haunreiter and Martina Hottinger Haunreiter. All his life he was called Fritz by his family and friends, a tribute to their German heritage! The family moved to Mayfield, where his father worked in a sawmill, and then to Chehalis where Fred attended St. Joseph Catholic School. He graduated from Chehalis High School in 1944. He was inducted into the US Army in August 1945 and in the waning days of World War II was sent by troop ship to Korea to assist civilians.
Fred married the love of his life, Virginia Mae Becker, September 15, 1944, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1994. Virginia passed away December 22, 1996, and Fred forever mourned her passing. He is now with her in heaven where he's holding her hand and kissing her a thousand times.
Fred is survived by their four children, Kathy Johnson and her husband Bob Johnson, of Chehalis, Tom Haunreiter, Bonney Lake, Pat Riffe and her husband, Randy Riffe, Mill Creek, and Fred Haunreiter and his wife Rose Haunreiter, Huntington Beach, CA. He is survived by three grandchildren, Aaron Nicholas Riffe and his wife, Vanessa Vitale, Chicago IL, Tyler Alexander Haunreiter, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs CO, and Mika Rose Haunreiter, Huntington Beach.
He is also survived by his brothers, Lawrence Haunreiter, Lacey, and Paul Haunreiter, Chehalis, his sister, Mary Wood, Seattle, his sisters in law, Roberta Haunreiter and Beth Haunreiter, both of Chehalis, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Edward Haunreiter and his baby sister, Margaret.
Fred was a member of the Teamsters Union his entire working life. He worked for a number of years for Hope's Dairy as a milk truck driver and then for Graystone as a cement truck driver. At Graystone he worked many, many hours on both Mayfield and Mossyrock Dams.
Fred loved working with wood and upon his discharge from the Army, built his first home on 15th Street in Chehalis. In 1955 he moved his family to their second home on Ribelin Road in Chehalis where many a happy reunion on both sides of their family was hosted by Fred and Virginia, or Fritz and Mouse as they were lovingly called. He was always working on wood projects, having built pieces of furniture, wooden flower planters, birdhouses, a tree house for the grandchildren, and multiple projects to furnish his wood shop and garage. In the late 1990s he built a small home in Salkum where he lived for a short time before moving to Woodland Estates and then on to Guest Only Care Center.
Fred was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Chehalis, and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed reading Louis L'Amour novels and watching the old cowboy shows on television. He also loved watching Seahawks, Cougar and Husky football with his family.
A private family service has been held and Fred was buried at Claquato Cemetery beside his beloved wife. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Fred and Virginia Haunreiter Nursing Scholarship, c/o Dr. Linda Smith, W.F. West High School 342 SW 16th Street, Chehalis WA 98532. Please mark donations "Haunreiter Donation". The scholarship benefits W.F. West High School graduates who have chosen a career in nursing and has been awarded every year since June 1997.
Services are under the direction of Sticklin Funeral Chapel
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