CONCORDIA -- Frederick Wayne Fielder, 83, passed away Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Cloud County Health Center as a result of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease directly related to many years of smoking. Mr. Fielder was born Nov. 14, 1926, in Ellis, Neb., where his father and grandfather worked for the Rock Island Railroad Company. In 1938, his family moved to Esbon, where he graduated from high school in 1944. After high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific theater of World War II and with the Army ccupation of Japan. He went to work for the Rock Island Railroad in 1948 as a student fireman and a short time later, transferred to the clerical department, where he worked at various positions over the next 31 years. He also held the position of terminal manager with headquarters in Belleville for Wabash Valley Railroad, a temporary government subsidized operation. He later worked for Kyle Railroad Company in 1982 as a member of the staff. He retired in 1984. Mr. Fielder served as president of the Pikes Peak Traffic Club, organized and served as president of the Northern Kansas Rail Association, and he was one of three people who organized the Kansas Railroad Company and served as resident agent for that company in the state of Kansas. In 1981, he helped formulate and write the first mileage grain tariff for the Iowa Railroad Company and served a short time as vice president of tariff for that company. He was a former member of the Elks, Moose, and Eagles lodges and is currently a 50-year member of VFW Post 3722 in Belleville.
He was united in marriage to Helen Joan Post, of Lebanon, and from this union, four children were born and all of whom survive and are Ronald Scott Fielder and wife Kathy, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Philip Wayne Fielder and wife Patricia, of Hays, Candace Joan Fielder, of Freehold, N.J., and Pamela Sue Raineri and husband Bruce, of Lawrence, Mass. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Bryce Fielder and wife Sarah, of Green Bay, Wis., Blayne Fielder and wife Christa, of Palo, Iowa, Kelly Fielder, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Kelsi Rogers and husband Daniel, of Lawrence, Keegan Fielder, of Hays, Jenise Reep, of Kansas City, Kan., and Joanne Raineri, of Lawrence, Mass. In addition, Fred is survived by six great-grandchildren, Jenna, Jacey, Cal, Chase, and Reid, and Joshua. Other survivors include his second wife, Marcelline Bonebrake, of the home; three stepsons, Kale Bonebrake and wife Juanita, of Emporia, Lyle Bonebrake and wife Theresa, of Concordia, and Earl Bonebrake and wife Brenda, of Beloit: two stepdaughters, Connie Bonebrake, of Concordia, and Joyce McClanahan and husband Ken, of Clyde; 13 stepgrandchildren; and 13 stepgreat-grandchildren. He is also survived by a half brother, Roger Fielder, of Kansas City, Kan.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents and five sisters.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. Sixth St., P.O. Box 606, Concordia 66901, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Barry Brinkman officiating, with burial in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Concordia, with military honors by Fort Riley.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Concordia Animal Shelter or Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Organ Fund. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.
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