Obituary of Fred G. Kraege

Local historian, Fred Kraege, pass away on Friday, May 24, 2013 at his home in Whitewater, WI. Frederick was born June 13, 1927 the son of Herman and Ida (Holtman) Kraege in Deerbrook, Langlade County, Wisconsin. In 1931, Fred's parents and his sisters moved to Lima Center ,Wisconsin where his Dad managed the Dadmun elevator-feed store. He attended the Lima Center State grade school for eight years, and graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1945. He enjoyed playing baseball. In 1943, on his sixteenth birthday, Fred played his first game for the Whitewater City team. He also played for Milton and Plainfield before ending his baseball career in Whitewater in 1953. Fred was inducted into military service on August 3, 1945, about two months after his 18th birthday. Fred's unit was the last to receive the customary 17 weeks of basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas. In 1946, Fred's unit was sent to Europe. After five months, Fred was returned to the States due to illness. He was discharged from the service in Dec. 1946. Fred was a long time member of the American Legion Post in Whitewater, a charter member of the Clarence Chesney Chapter Post #22 of the DAV in Whitewater, and a life time member of the Blackhawk Chapter of the DAV in Fort Atkinson. After employment at various jobs, he began thirty years of service working at the General Motors Plant in Janesville retiring in December 1982. On September 11, 1954, he was united in marriage to Joan Henderson, the daughter of Clifton and Rose Henderson and a great granddaughter of the first settlers in Cold Spring Township just north of Whitewater (1837). They have always resided in Whitewater to this date. After retiring, Fred worked with his mother, and her neighbor, Diana Coleman, putting together a history of Lima Center. It included a listing of the Lima Center Cemetery where the obituaries gave much detail regarding the early business of Lima Center. Fred complied the Henderson Family Tree and became interested in the history of the City of Whitewater. In 1986, Fred obtained the first listing of persons interred in Hillside Cemetery and offered to improve on it. Fred presented the cemetery listings to the City in 1987 for his donation to the 150th Anniversary of the City. Within a few, Fred had cataloged award winning records of 31 cemeteries in all directions of the City for use in researching family trees. In 2003 Fred invited ancestors of the Esterly family who resided in Whitewater prior to 1900, to attend an Esterly reunion in the City. It was well attended. He put together a book on George Esterly, the inventor of a reaper in 1844, and donated his Esterly memorabilia to the Library. As a result of his research, he realized what a great history the City of Whitewater has and strived to share this information. In 2006, as part of his effort to contribute to the revitalization of the downtown, Fred authored the book, "Images of Whitewater", his anniversary gift to the City to commemorate the 100 birthday of the City's first history, "Early Annals of Whitewater." At times, Fred was very critical of actions taken by the Civic committees. At the book signing in 2006, he received the honor of being titled a "Public Nuisance" to the City. Fred proudly claimed the title. Also, in 2006, Fred asked that something special be done in 2007, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the great Home Coming of 1907. His dream came true when the City put out a united effort for the Home Coming of 2007. He reigned as King and Marilyn Kienbaum was the Queen of the celebration. An avid historian, he amassed over one hundred twenty books of local history and various subjects, all related to Whitewater's history. It was Fred's intent that future researchers would use his books to further explain the greatness of Whitewater. These books were donated to the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library. Fred was preceded in death by his mother and father, his step mother Martha Johnson Kraege, two sisters: Elfrieda Kraege and Alvina Goehl, his brother-in-law Edward Goehl, his father and mother-in-law, Clifton and Rose Henderson and brother-in-law, Allen Henderson. His wife of 58 years, Joan, and sister-in-law Vivian Henderson along with cousins and friends survive him. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, 550 N. Newcomb Street, Whitewater, WI with Rev. Jerald Wendt officiating. Friends may call after 9AM on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the Nitardy Funeral Home, Whitewater until the time of the services. Fred requests memorials be given to the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library for the new History and Genealogy Rooms which are to be constructed in the near future.