RDell August Froemke Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

RDell Froemke, age 85, of Fort Collins, Colorado died July 11, 2017. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 20th at 2:00 pm at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins. RDell was born on September 4, 1931 to parents, August and Frieda Froemke in Lisbon, North Dakota. He was raised on a small farm just outside the town, where he learned what hard work was all about. Right out of high school in 1952, he enlisted in the Navy, serving during the Korean War aboard the USS John Weeks Destroyer. After his Naval service, RDell attended Barber College in Fargo. It was also during this time that RDell met his wife, Carol; they were married December 27, 1958 in Windsor, North Dakota. RDell was good with people, a must for any barber. He spent 13 years in the profession, giving haircuts and the occasional advice to his customers in Fargo and Jamestown. When it was time for a change, RDell became the maintenance supervisor for the housing department at North Dakota State University. He retired from the University after 22 years of service in 1994. RDell and Carol moved from North Dakota in 1998, retiring to the lovely Skyline community in Fort Collins. RDell was often outside, working in the yard and barbequing outdoors so he quickly made friends. He loved to visit with neighbors and share food together. Food was one of his passions, especially dessert, which appealed to his well-known sweet tooth. RDell and Carol also had a home away from home in retirement – a motorhome in fact – travelling to Arizona and back and everywhere in between. He relished the RV lifestyle, pulling into a new campground, and meeting new people. He was an avid Broncos fan, always up for a discussion of the line-up and how Sunday’s game went. RDell was also part of the St. Joseph Catholic Church community where he shared in his faith and fellowship alongside Carol. RDell naturally encouraged others and will be missed by his family, his church, his neighbors, and his friends. Everyone will remember his smile. No matter how tough things were, throughout his illness, RDell always had a smile on his face, sharing his happiness with those around him. RDell’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. James Moore and his staff, as well as the staff of the infusion department at the Cancer Center in Fort Collins. RDell is survived by his wife, Carol Froemke of Fort Collins; daughter, Pam Froemke of Fort Collins; son, Tom (Chel) Froemke of Loveland; brother, Virgil Froemke of Moorhead, MN; sister, Shirley Ulmer of St. Cloud, MN; sister-in-law, Shirley Froemke of Lisbon, ND; sister-in-law, Jo Froemke of Salem, OR; grandchildren, Kalai Donner of Lakewood; and Josh (Terra) Donner of Livermore. He was preceded in death by daughter, Sandy; brothers, Willis and Eldon Froemke; sister, Dorothy Stewart; brother-in-law, Orville Stewart; and brother-in-law, John Ulmer. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Pathways Hospice or St. Joseph Catholic Church in memory of RDell. And please visit www.goesfuneralcare.com to leave condolences and share memories.

RDell August Froemke

September 4, 1931 - July 11, 2017