Frederick M. Riebe

Frederick "Fritz" M. Riebe husband, father, grandfather, farmer, machinist, bus driver, union man, restaurateur, horse player and an all around great guy. Born November 28, 1920 in Winona, Minn the first of seven children born to the late Alfred and Grace (Murphy) Riebe. As a boy he trapped muskrats along the Mississippi, selling the pelts for a dime a piece, spending summers on the farm of his father's sister Gertie and her husband Clarence Lund. His father died when he was young, in the midst of the depression, and at the age of 16 he quit school to help support the family. His early working years included employment in a Milwaukee brewery, joining the Civilian Conservation Corps, and managing the bus company in Anchorage, Alaska. While up in Alaska he met and married Ramona to whom he would be happily married to for over 56 years. Leaving Alaska in the mid-fifties, he drove bus in Hollywood, Calif., and Chicago before landing a job as a machinist with Baker Oil and Tool in Los Angeles. At the age of 40 he quit his job, bought an old flat bed truck, and like the Beverly Hillbillies in reverse, they loaded everything that they owned and moved to Wisconsin where he bought a 114 acre dairy farm just outside of Edgar. Later while working the farm he took a second shift machinist job with Murray Machinery here in Wausau. When he sold the farm, Fred continued working at Murray's, and became part-owner/manager of the Log Cabin Restaurant in Schofield. Eventually settled in Big Lake, Minnesota area where he worked for Remmele Engineering until he retired at the age of 65. After retiring Fred and Ramona moved back to Wausau where he lived for the rest of his days, with the exception of wintering in Las Vegas until recently when Fred's health began to fail, or as he put it: "his get up and go, got up and went." Fred loved reading, dancing, music and playing the horses. After retirement he threw himself full force into a search for the perfect horse racing handicapping system. He spent hours on end like some medival monk locked away in his cell lit up only by his computer's screen seeking the Holy Grail of handicapping. Funny thing is although he could write his own computer programs; he could never get the hang of cordless phones. Fred gave himself to life, holding nothing back, and when the end came of June 5, 2005 he had nothing left to hold on to and he died peacefully at home, 1406 Grand Avenue, Schofield, at the age of 84, like someone ready to sleep after a good day of work and play. Fred is survived by his wife, Ramona Riebe, his children, Robin (Maryann) Riebe, Wausau, Theda Neubauer, Schofield, Michael (Paula) Riebe, West Bend, James Riebe, Milwaukee, Patrick Riebe, Minnesota, grandchildren, Steven Riebe, Eric Neubauer, Nicole Neubauer and Daniel Riebe, siblings, Lois (Walter) Rudd, Arden Hills, Minnesota, Florence (John) Calyore, Naples, Flordia, Gerald Riebe, Arkansas and many nieces and nephews. A private memorial service will be held in the near future. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com