Fredrick 'Fred' Skrade
Fredrick “Fred” Roger Skrade, 92, of Rockford, Ill., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
He was born March 8, 1927, in Eastman, the son of Edwin and Edith (Bonney) Skrade.
He attended Seneca High School in Seneca, the class of 1944. Fred proudly served in the United States Navy during WWII and the Korean War. He married the love of his life, Cecelia Morovits, on June 24, 1953. Fred went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Northeastern Illinois University-School Without Walls Program. In his younger years, he worked in southern Wisconsin as a cheese and butter maker. He later went on to become a field service engineer for Greenlee Textron, where he worked for over 23 years. Fred was a man of deep faith and was ordained a Deacon on March 4, 1978, and ministered to the sick and homebound of St. Edward Parish. He also served the city of Rockford, as a police chaplain and a chaplain at OSF hospital. Fred was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and a longtime member of St. Edward Catholic Church. He served as an assistant Boy Scout Master when his children were young. Fred enjoyed woodworking and especially time spent with his family. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.
Fred is survived by his loving wife, Cecelia; children, Steven (Margo), Mark (Jami), Brian, Philip (Melinda), Diane (Gary) Kisting, David (Sandra), Mary (David) Kisting and Nancy (Larry) McKinney; son-in-law, Jerry Larson; 27 grandchildren, Jason (Sabrina), David (Alan), Patrick (Lacey), Chad, Matthew, Michael (Jennifer), Nick, Kate, Anna, Jake, Mattie, Ben, Charlie, Devin (Ansuya), Stephanie (Paul), Robert, Erik, Erica, Becca (David), Michael, Nathan, Meridith, Adrienne, Joe (Gladys), Chris (Katie), Gin (Nick) and Stephanie; and numerous great-grandchildren; siblings, Elaine Johnson, Barbara (Chuck) Gremore and Douglas (Helen) Skrade; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; daughter, Patricia Larson; grandchildren, Timothy and James Kisting; brothers, Eugene (Harriet) Skrade and Carl Skrade.
The family would like to thank Sister Angelica and the OSF Hospice staff, as well as the staff at Cor Mariae for their care and compassion.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a rosary recited at 8 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford. Visitation will continue Thursday, Jan. 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Edward Catholic Church, 3004 11th St., in Rockford. A Mass will be held Thursday, at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rockford Rescue Mission, 715 W State St., Rockford, IL 61102. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.
