Fredric "Fred" Petters

FUNERAL HOME

Williams Dingmann Funeral Homes - St. Cloud

1900 Veterans Drive

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Fredric Petters Obituary

Fredric "Fred" E. Petters, 87

St. Cloud

January 19, 1926 - June 1, 2013

Mass of Christian burial will be 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville for Fredric "Fred" E. Petters, 87, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, who died of old age on June 1, 2013 at St. Benedict's Senior Community, surrounded by his loving family. Rev. Eugene McGlothlin, OSB, and Rev. Jerome Tupa, OSB, will concelebrate and burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Collegeville. Relatives and friends may call from 1:00 - 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at the Abbey. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud.

Fred was born in St. Cloud on January 19, 1926 to William and Henrica (Albers) Petters. On the day he was born, his grandmother looked at him and said, "This one's for the shop," meaning that he would be responsible for the family business once he came of age. Fred grew up with his 5 siblings in St. Cloud and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1944. Fred enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in World War II from 1944 to 1946. Upon his return, he enrolled at St. John's University and graduated with a degree in Economics. Although he loved to study many subjects, among his favorite was art.

Fred married his beloved Rosemary "Romy" Boyle on July 20, 1950 in St. Cloud. With his SJU degree behind him, Fred accepted the family obligation and went to work for Petters Tailoring and Fur Co., as his father and grandfather had before him. In the shop, He later purchased the business from his father in 1959 and ran it until he closed the business in 1977. In the shop, Fred implemented his own artistic style and greatly developed the fabric department, expanding it to include fabrics, ribbons, and yarns from throughout the world. Fred was deeply involved in aesthetic, cultural, and community developments, including supporting the beginning of MN Public Radio, the construction of the then-new St. Cloud Public Library on St. Germain and 4th Ave, and promotion of downtown St. Cloud. While the closing of the family business created a great sense of loss for him, it gave him the time and the courage to take a new perspective on his life: in a sense, it was the freedom he never felt he had before.

At the age of 50, Fred returned to school, seeking a Master's Degree in Information Media from SCSU. In the fall of 1977, Fred began work at SJU, eventually becoming the Media Editor for The Liturgical Press. Fred was a member of St. John the Baptist in Collegeville. In retirement, Fred made the most of every day by filling it with all the beauty he could create. This included painting beautiful watercolors, nurturing his grandchildren, planting spectacular gardens and doting on his wife. He was known for his unique, often dry, and endearing humor. He remained very close to his children, grandchildren and friends throughout his life. He is dearly missed by many.

Fred is survived by his sweetheart of 63 years, Rosemary, of St. Cloud; children, Fredric (Kim), St. Paul, Jon (Colleen), Avon, Becky (Steve) Randa, Washburn, WI, Thomas, Kansas, Christopher, St. Cloud, Catherine "Cotton" (Mike), St. Joseph. Siblings, Marguerite, St. Cloud, Karl (Karleen), Avon; 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Mary Judith Hoover; grandson John Thomas Petters; siblings Bill Petters, Lorraine Dieckmann, and Mary Lou McLain.

Fred was a great cook, and he loved pie. Berry picking for pies has been a long-time family tradition, now passed down to the grandchildren. The family's preference is that in lieu of memorials, flowers, or pies are preferred at the reception following services, at the Parish Center on Fruit Farm Road, Collegeville.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Cloud Times on Jun. 4, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Fredric Petters

12 Entries

July 3, 2013

My mom, Loretta, and the rest of the Zabinski clan from Ely were saddened to learn from a St. Cloud relative last week that Fred had died. Our dad, Gene ("Pink," to Fred and Romy), passed away on Dec. 26, so we have been coping with our own family loss. Fred and Romy and their wonderful family are longstanding friends from years ago. Gene, Fred and Romy were high school classmates, and the friendships never faded. We traded family visits to Ely and St. Cloud on many occasions over the years, and we have many shared stories about those experiences. I am sorry it took us this long to hear the news; we would have expressed these sentiments and more if we'd been there in person. Our prayers and thoughts are with Romy and the rest of their family.

Kathleen Coyle Jursa

June 10, 2013

I'm grateful for the relationship with my
Uncle Fred,Aunt Romy and all my cousins. Growing up together was a wonderful gift and lots of fun. Peace and blessings of love and gratitude

Maureen Sullivan Nosal

June 8, 2013

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of spending lots of time with my best friend Mary Petters at her father's store, looking at patterns and choosing fabrics from an amazing array of beautiful colors and textures. We also loved trying on all the fur coats and listening to Mr. Petters explain how they were made. The Petters family was special to my family, and my thoughts are with you. I am sorry for your loss.

Joyce Northrup

June 8, 2013

To all of the Petters family, especially Tom and Cotton, I extend my deepest sympathy to you on the loss of your beloved Dad. I didn't have the priviledge of meeting your Dad but I know he was a wonderful man. Please accept my condolences and know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Greg Boyle

June 6, 2013

Fred was a wonderful godfather and uncle to me. May God bless him and all his family.

Pat

June 5, 2013

I don't know any of you, but coming to downtown St. Cloud was an awesome treat back in the early 60's and I remember the beautiful windows at Petters! All the fabrics and designs to be seen by all. It was awesome. Sorry for your loss.

June 4, 2013

My mother (Berdie Corrigan) worked in Petters selling fabric for several years and even bought a fur coat. She enjoyed her years there and I also enjoyed visiting her when she was there and meeting everyone. It gave her a great hobby of sewing and selling fabric. Romy, hope your memories are a comfort to you and your family. Sandra Corrigan Hagen

Susan Pedersen

June 4, 2013

Jon & Colleen, we are honored to have some of your Dad's watercolors here at The Village on the Cannon. Susan and the Residents of VOC.

Mike Donohue

June 4, 2013

FRED

Fred's death floods me with Fred's life, those events we shared. I knew this thoughtful guy many ways. The more memorable was in the urban renewal of St Cloud, the development he, John Wahl, John David Fandel, Bill Kresl, and George McDowall spearheaded. It was the 5th Ave and St Germain Development Project aka The Guarantee Project. This project included the Guarantee Building, the Grand Central Hotel, the Searle Block, the Elks Building and what became the Petter's Block. It also included the Modern Bar and Horseshoe Liquor Building which most recently in my memory was the Mexican Village.

This was a valiant attempt to save real estate and business in this section of the downtown. Coincident with that we experienced St Cloud's attempt to restrain the drain of retail from downtown to the burgeoning Crossroads Development. This included the rebuilding of the south side of Sixth Ave by Bob Sullivan of Herberger's, their buying the Fandel's Department Store building and including that with a bridge across 6th Ave to link the two buildings. It included the building of Germain Mall, the ring-road and the American Legion Nemesis, the rebuild and rerouting of the St Germain Bridge across the Mississippi.

Later Downtown changed, not necessarily for the better. The vision of Fred with his partners was to retain the central core of St Cloud to what it had always been historically. Unfortunately history will not allow itself to be leashed and the Mercantile Center of St Cloud is now on the historic Ferber Farm where Ollie Ferber and Mark Knolach saw the real tide of history moving.

The foregoing history tells of valiant men in St Cloud's community who loved it enough to put themselves on the line. Fred was in the center of this vortex.

In that experience I came to know Fred, a blessing I carried the rest of his life. He was then a businessman, a merchant, whose secret side was that of an artist and philosopher.

After the development was over, some of it successful, some of it not, he sold his business, no longer having a downtown to serve. He stole to the woods near St. John's and spent the second half of his life pursuing his vision in art, and spent it in kindness and closeness to his family and friends. He found new and real values and pursued them with the same passion he pursued furs, textile fashions and property development.

It is in this later period I knew Fred best as seen and related to me by my friend his son Jon, Tom, Fred Jr. and by son-in-law Joe Hoover,

Fred was totally decent, he was kind; he knew himself and the world about him. His life was full, it was good. St Cloud, St John's, Avon are better for having had him.

Roberta Werner

June 4, 2013

I loved having Fred in our Oblate discussion group. He was special! My deepest sympathy to Romy and all his loved ones.

Ralph Weber

June 4, 2013

Rosemarie and I send our love and prayers to you, Romy and family. Fred, Romy too, always brought joy and caring to us and our family.

Tony and Denise Stachnik

June 4, 2013

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Fred was a special guy and will be missed by many. God bless...
love, Tony and Denise

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