Fred A. Gwerder: 1941-2022 | The Daily Chronicle – Centralia Chronicle
Longtime Pacific County dairy farmer Fred A. Gwerder passed away at his home on March 5.
With the help of a midwife, Fred was brought into the world in Auburn, Washington, on July 13, 1941. He grew up on the family dairy farm in the Kent Valley and graduated from Kent High School in 1959.
He married Lillian Hamilton of Mossyrock on Oct. 5, …….
Longtime Pacific County dairy farmer Fred A. Gwerder passed away at his home on March 5.
With the help of a midwife, Fred was brought into the world in Auburn, Washington, on July 13, 1941. He grew up on the family dairy farm in the Kent Valley and graduated from Kent High School in 1959.
He married Lillian Hamilton of Mossyrock on Oct. 5, 1963. They moved to fiPacific County to own and operate a dairy farm near Lebam, Washington. Several years later, they purchased a dairy farm in Frances where they raised their two sons, Rob and Tony. Sadly, Lillian passed away on Dec. 9, 1992.
Fred married Patti Kaech Williams on Feb. 14, 1997. They enjoyed life together on the farm for 25 years.
Proud of his Swiss heritage, Fred was known for his fondness of all things Swiss and was especially interested in Swiss style wrestling, known as schwingen. In the 60s and 70s, he wrestled and won crowns in the Schwingfests on the West Coast. He traveled to Switzerland several times with family and friends to see the Eidgenoss, the championship schwingfest held in a different location in Switzerland every three years.
Fred liked fast cars, and had several speeding tickets in his younger years to prove it. He also had a love for green and yellow tractors and black and white cows. Fred had a strong work ethic, and when asked why he became a dairy farmer, he would say, “I always knew I wanted to be a dairy farmer. If you take good care of your cows, they will take good care of you.”
Fred was preceded in death by his parents George Sr. and Elizabeth Gwerder, wife Lillian, son Tony Gwerder and brother George Gwerder. He is survived by wife Pattie at the family home, son Rob Gwerder of Frances, grandson Tyler Gwerder of Las Vegas, granddaughter Alicia Gwerder of Olympia, brothers Bob Gwerder and Dick Gwerder of Auburn and nieces and nephews.
Fred was a member of the fiLewis-Pacific Swiss Society, Swiss Sportsmen’s Club of Tacoma, Raymond Eagles and Holy Family Catholic Church.
Memorials may be sent to fiLewis-Pacific Swiss Society Wrestling Fund 331 Elk Prairie Road, Raymond, Washington, 98577.
Graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, at Fernhill Cemetery. A reception followed at Swiss Hall in Frances.
Source: https://www.chronline.com/stories/fred-a-gwerder-1941-2022,285965?
