Frederick Kenneth Lohse, Age 86, of Cameron, Wisconsin and formerly Wonder Lake, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 20, 2019, in Rice Lake, WI. He was born on January 22, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois to his father, Frederick “Fred” Charles Lohse and mother Marie Helen (Postelnick) Lohse.

Frederick grew up in Chicago, IL. He loved playing sports with friends, cheering on the Bears, playing cards, fishing, loved animals and had a knack for history.  Fred adored his baby sister Carol “Cookie” and his younger brothers James “Jim” and Ronald “Ron”. After high school he enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in California. He met his beautiful, true love, Patricia, at a USO dance near Travis AFB. They married on December 19, 1953 in Reno and had a traditional family wedding at the San Leandro Catholic Church in California on January 30, 1954.  After Fred’s enlistment ended they relocated to Illinois and raised their 7 beautiful and loving children. He worked many hours as a security guard, milk delivery man, and then began 35 years in various police agencies throughout the Chicago area. He was a detective for Fox Valley, police officer in Cary, Sergeant of Algonquin PD, and Chief of Police in Wonderlake, IL.  He retired in 1995 and Fred and Pat moved to Cameron, WI which is close to their favorite, generational, family vacation area of Chetek. Fred was very observant, had good instincts, loved history, family card games, and old movies.  He had a contagious laugh, a sense of humor, a big personality and was truly a one-of-a-kind. He also was also an exceptional and very realistic Santa every Christmas Eve without fail. 

Frederick is survived by his sister, Carol Stromberg, James (Teresa) Lohse, Ronald (Cheryl) Lohse, sister-in-law, Sandy Hovey, children Christine Byard, Robert (Robin), David (Jo Ann), James (Linda), John, William (Susan), Therese Gough, 24 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren as well as best friends and cousins Wally and Diane Postelnick. There were many more cousins, nieces and nephews in his large family.  

He is preceded in death by his mother Marie Lohse, father Fred Lohse, son Freddy Lohse, grandson Michael Lohse, granddaughter Heather Lohse, great grandson Zachary Lohse, mother-in-law Elicia Zapata, stepfather-in-law Frank Zapata, father-in-law Clayton Smith and step mother-in-law Maddie Smith.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 11AM. The visitation will be one hour prior to the service and the private burial will be at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI.

Flowers may be sent to St. Boniface Catholic Church 419 3rd Street, Chetek, WI 54728 or a donation may be made to LMC Home Health & Hospice 1700 W. Stout Street, Rice Lake, WI 54868 or Chetek Senior Center 711 First Street Chetek, WI 54728 

Last Update: Dec 23, 2019 7:44 am CST