Fred S. Kummer Jr.

Kummer, Fred S. Jr.

Passed away on April 30, 2021. Beloved husband of June M. Kummer (nee' Baumer) for 68 years; dear son of the late Gertrude L. Kummer (nee' Tolles) and the late Fred S. Kummer Sr.; dear brother and brother-in-law to Gloria Shedler (the late Joseph), Arleen Roettger (the late Earl) and the late Jackie Brosius (Don survives); loving father to Caroline Croswell (Tom), Fritz Kummer (Tess) and Melanie Brewer (David); loving grandfather to Katherine Rohlf (Charles), Jordan Kummer, Branden Kummer, Joel Brewer (Tanya), Katerina Beysselance (Charles), Cameron Kummer, Daniel Brewer and Valerie Brewer; proud great-grandfather of Theodore Rohlf, Charles Beysselance, Madeline Rohlf and Edward Beysselance; special uncle to Susan Shedler and Patricia Shedler.

Fred was born in New York City in 1929. He was a U.S. Army Veteran during the Korean War, climbing to the rank of First Sergeant, and was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey. Fred was a proud graduate of the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now Missouri University of Science and Technology), earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He was also awarded an honorary degree, Doctor of Engineering, from the University of Missouri in 1984.

In 1960, and with three small children, Fred and June took a big risk when they quit their engineering and architecture jobs and together founded the Kummer Construction Company in the basement of their Pinellas Drive home in Crestwood, Missouri. Fred and June then grew their family company into the future nine-division HBE Corporation, starting in 1967 with the formation of the Hospital Building and Equipment Company. Owing to Fred's innovative design-build approach, HBE Corporation became a multi-billion dollar enterprise that designed and built over 1100 commercial projects throughout the country and employed thousands of people. Together Fred and June also founded the Adams Mark luxury hotel chain in the early 1970s.

Fred and June have made several generous and transformative donations to the University of Missouri, the most significant of which coming in 2020 that established the Kummer Institute for Student Success, Research and Economic Development at Missouri S&T to support efforts to encourage more students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Institute includes four new research centers, scholarship and doctoral fellow programs, as well as the establishment of the Kummer College of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development. Fred was also a past member of the Missouri S&T Board of Trustees and the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

Fred was an avid skier and loved the mountains. Anyone who knew Fred can attest to the fact that throughout his life and work he was a force to be reckoned with. We already feel his absence and he will certainly be missed.

Services: Service details are pending. See boppchapel.com