Henry James Fedderke “Jim,” 89, of Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, passed away on Jan. 21, 2023, at UTMC after a brief battle with a respiratory illness.
He was born in Defiance County, Ohio, on July 27, 1933, to Henry and Amelia (Kruse) Fedderke. He was baptized on Aug. 19, 1933, and confirmed on March 30, 1947, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. On May 10, 1958, Jim married Mary Ellen Helmke at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners.
Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, and previously a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and held many offices within the church, including president of the congregation.
There were very few things that Jim couldn’t repair or build. In his younger years he worked as a mason and laid the stone for their family home. He was a great family man and enjoyed having his family close, especially his grandchildren. Jim enjoyed traveling, gardening, snowmobiling and fishing at Grand Lake.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Ellen; children, Deb Fedderke, Sandy (Ric) Andres, Jeff Fedderke and Michael (Wendy) Fedderke; grandchildren, Ryan (Brittany) Robertson, Jamie (Tom) Kerr, Tyler Andres, Logan Andres, Zachary Fedderke, Spencer Fedderke and Jordyn Fedderke; great-grandchildren, Easton, Addison, Zaylee, Reese and Kensley; and sisters, Judy Fedderke and Marilyn Thomas.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ned Thomas.
Friends and family will be received at the Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon, on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at 11 a.m., with an hour of visitation prior to services. Interment will take place at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, or the Ridgeville Township Fire Department.
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