November 29, 2023 – Washington Co, WI – Frederick Charles Middendorf was born March 11, 1939, in Milwaukee to the late Fred and Rose (nee Tillmann) Middendorf. He died on November 24, 2023. While growing up in Milwaukee, he attended St. Francis of Assisi Grade School.
While in grade school, Fred was a Mass server, helped train new servers, and helped the Capuchins in the monastery garden. He went on to graduate from Messmer High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Fred enrolled in the ROTC program, which inspired him to join the Air National Guard.
Fred was assigned to the 128 Security Forces Squadron at General Mitchell IAP (ANGB), Milwaukee, WI. After serving as Security Police Superintendent for 14 years, he earned the promotion to Security Police Chief. Fred retired in March 1999 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.
For many years, Fred sang in the German Liederkranz Choir and served as their Librarian. The men’s Liederkranz choir sang annually at the German Fest in Milwaukee and in Cedarburg. They also sang at many assisted living facilities, schools, and concerts.
Fred was a Fourth Degree Member, Assembly 1677, of the Knights of Columbus in West Bend. He participated in the annual Men of Christ Conference, as well as monthly meetings with his fellow Knights.
He was a member of St. Michael Parish in Kewaskum where he volunteered his time and talents in the parish office and on the men’s choir. For many years Fred served as coordinator of the Fall Festival.
Fred’s willingness to volunteer and his love for carpentry assisted him during his five trips to Nicaragua between 2009 and 2016. Fred traveled by plane and boat to several Miskito villages where he repaired and built cabinets in several churches, convents, and rectories in the northern region of Nicaragua.
On June 26, 1976, he was united in marriage to Faith (nee Senglaub) Schmid and was a stepfather to her five children: Robert, Raymond, Gerard, Marie, and Paul.
Fred, his late wife Faith, and the teenage children enjoyed traveling throughout the USA visiting California, Florida, New York, Washington DC, and Canada. Faith and Fred continued to enjoy traveling after the children left home, taking cruises, and flying to Europe, Alaska, and Mexico.
Survivors include his sisters, Dorothy (John) Giuliani and Rose Braun, and his stepchildren Robert (Donna) Schmid of Colorado, Ray (Vicki) Schmid of New Mexico, Marie Joers of Wisconsin and Paul (Edith) Schmid of California. He is further survived by grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Faith, his stepson, Gerard, a son-in-law Ronald, and a brother-in-law Kenneth Braun.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Michael’s. Burial of the cremated remains will be in spring, 2024 in Holy Rosary Cemetery in New Holstein. The family will greet relatives and friends during a period of visitation at church on Monday from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m.
