Fredrick Howard

Fredrick Kenneth Howard, 62, of Grainfield, died Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Gove County Medical Center. He was born in Ransom, KS, on July 2, 1953, to Kenneth and Barbara (Rohr) Howard. The family lived in Ness City, Lenora and Oakley. They spent a lot of time caring for animals and fishing. Fred left home at an early age to go on a harvest crew and then attended school at Goodland Vo-Tech, for mechanics. He married Melinda Richardson on July 26, 1975 and they had two daughters, Amy and Amanda. Fred worked in Oakley at Swart Park Motors, Pioneer Feed Yard and Keller Bros. Trucking. When they moved to Grainfield, in November, 1980, he began working for the City of Grainfield. Fred also was the City Marshall for 10 years (who would have ever thought, after all the trouble he got in to and hell he raised.) Fred then worked in the Oil field for BJ Titan for several months and when he decided that wasn’t for him he started trucking for Midwest COOP in Grinnell, before purchasing his own truck. He continued trucking until 2002, when he took a job for the Kansas Department of Transportation, working until he retired in September of 2015.

Freddie was such a happy go lucky, ornery, joking, always had a smile on his face kind of guy. He had a nickname for everybody. He loved to tinker in his shop, fishing, mowing, gardening and going to Tulsa to visit. Fred loved spending time with his grandkids and teaching them things (it wasn’t always good.) His dream after retirement was to do a lot of fishing, but after becoming extremely sick in March, he wasn’t able to get far from home. Although he was making tremendous improvements, he suffered from complication the last two weeks that overcame him.

Fred was preceded in death by his dad Kenneth; nephews, Travis Howard and Dustin Richardson and brother-in-law Dennis Buchholz.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda; daughters, Amy (Clint) Gibson and Amanda (Jerry) Gallentine; mother, Barbara Howard; brothers, Ted (Darcy) and John (Linda); sister, Colette Buchholz; brother-in-law, Verlyn (Delores) Richardson; sister-in-law. Bonnie Hagel; five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Cremation was chosen. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 25, 2016 also at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Fred Howard Memorial Fund, to be designated by the family at a later date, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com