Fred Eugene Kickertz

Kickertz, Fred Eugene age 78, passed away peacefully in at-home hospice care in Plymouth, Minnesota on Monday, March 27, 2017 after a four- year struggle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born on November 10, 1938 in Grand Rapids, MN., and grew up in Glenwood, Minnesota. He is survived by Betty (Brown), his wife of fifty-six years , brother Allan (Kathy) Kickertz, sisters Virginia Kickertz, Betty Jean (Lee) Recknor and Genevieve Murtaugh; step-mother Erma Kickertz, seven nieces and nephews, thirteen grand nieces and nephews and many friends worldwide. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Otto Kickertz, mother, Myrtle (Bragg) Kickertz and his younger brother James. Fred graduated from Moorhead State University and began his career as a Chemical Engineer studying pyrethrins in East Africa. After two years they returned to Minneapolis where he completed his MBA in Business at the University of Minnesota. Following his graduation they spent 9 months backpacking their way around the world. Following their return to the Twin Cities, Fred joined Peat-Marwick & Mitchell where he worked towards and obtained his CPA accreditation and received the annual Harold C. Utley Award from the Minnesota Board of Accountancy as the student receiving the highest score statewide on the CPA examination. He went on to complete many years as a successful businessman and entrepreneur as well as a teacher and adjunct professor of accounting. In recent years one of his most rewarding career endeavors was working with his brother Jim and his company K & J Woodworks. Fred was a man of diverse interests and strong opinions. He traveled widely through his life, both personally and professionally, visiting sixty-one countries. He is loved and will be missed by many family members and long-time friends. In 1970 he made a long-term investment in the future of medical research with a decision to will his body, upon his death, to the University of Minnesota through its Anatomy Bequest Program. A Celebration of Fred's life will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 11:00 AM with visitation an hour earlier (10:00 AM) at the Gearty-Delmore Funeral home, 15800 37th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN, 55446, (763) 553-1411. Donations preferred to either: The Allina Health Hospice Foundation, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN., 55422, (612) 775-2550 or the Struthers Parkinson's Center, 6701 Country Club Drive, Minneapolis, MN., 55427, (952) 993-5495.

Published on April 30, 2017