Donald Leroy Fredericksen

Donald Leroy Fredericksen, the son of Verner Victor and Dorothy I. (Hinkle) Fredericksen, was born March 12, 1937, at his parents’ home in rural Audubon County, Iowa and died January 27, 2018, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 10 months, and 15 days.
Don was baptized as an adult at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa. He attended rural school, Hamlin #8 through the eighth grade and attended the Exira High School then helped on the family farm. On March 31, 1954, He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his tour of duty he served stateside and was stationed in California. He was honorably discharged on April 28, 1955. Don stayed in California and worked as a salesman for a short time then was employed at the Jewel Tea Company where he made dishes.
On November 8, 1958, he was united in marriage to Julia Olsen at his sister, Virginia and husband Norman Nelsen’s home in Vail, Iowa. Over the years they were blessed with five children Denise, Donald Raymond, Kelly, Lisa, and Mitchall. Don and Julia moved to the Los Angeles, California area where Don worked for a number of years. In 1965 they returned to Iowa and settled on a farm southwest of Audubon, Iowa. Don worked as a farm hand for Elmer Carlson and several other area farmers. Years later Don and Julia purchased Don’s father’s farm northwest of Exira, Iowa. Along with farming Don was employed at the Harlan Pork Plant until it closed then worked in the maintenance department at American Builder’s in Atlantic, Iowa until it closed. Don operated his own electric, plumbing and heating business for several years and also worked odd jobs cleaning up properties cutting iron until he retired. They sold the farm and moved into Exira in 1981. Julia died March 8, 2011. Don lived at home until he moved to the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa in 2015.
Don was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Don was proud of the fact that when he was younger he had a problem with alcohol and was able to recover from the addiction and remained sober over the past 30 years. Don enjoyed fishing, hunting, and sitting on the porch on the side of the house drinking coffee.
Preceding him in death was his wife Julia Fredericksen’ his son Donald Raymond “Shorty” and wife Lawonna Fredericksen; his parents; his brothers and sister Virginia and husband Norman Nelsen, Victor Verner and wife Ramona Fredericksen, John L. and wife Marcelyn Fredericksen; and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Dayle Wahlert, Beth Olsen, Tom Olsen, Bill Olsen, Margo Murray, and Jack Kruger.
Survivors include his children Denise and husband Curt Mardesen, Kelly and husband Jim Schwarte all of Elk Horn, Iowa, Lisa and husband Neal Meseck, and Mitchall Fredericksen all of Exira, Iowa; his grandchildren Nathan and wife Jessica Phippen of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Tyler and wife Raquel Phippen of Garner, Iowa, Tony and wife Michelle Phippen of Exira, Iowa, Matt and Joni Mardesen of Monroe, Iowa, Erik and wife Theresa Mardesen of Desoto, Iowa, Rachel and husband Jarred Johnson of Kimballton, Iowa, Sara and husband Ryan Rasmussen of Lincoln, Nebraska, Emily Johnson of Audubon, Iowa, Cody Fredericksen of West Des Moines, Iowa, Ian Fredericksen and Emma Fredericksen both of Creston, Iowa, Daniel Fredericksen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Randy Fredericksen , Joe and wife Angel Fredericksen, Mark Fredericksen, and David Fredericksen all of Atlantic, Iowa and Brandon Fredericksen of Council Bluffs, Iowa; numerous great grandchildren; his sister Marsha Prigge of Audubon, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Linda and husband Elmer Venteicher of Carroll, Iowa, Alice and husband Tom Maron of Aurora, Colorado, Frank Olsen of Exira, Iowa, Lois Kruger of Glendale, Arizona, Ken Olsen and Kim Plate of Newton, Iowa, and Margie Olsen of California; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends Friday evening, February 2, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. Graveside Services will be conducted by Pastor Keith Menter on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. Following the Graveside Services everyone is invited to gather with the family at the Brayton Town Hall in Brayton, Iowa for food and fellowship.