of Chelsea, Michigan. Age 90, died Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Silver Maples of Chelsea. He was born May 9, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Edgar S. and Jenny Laura (Heath) Leeman.
Fred graduated from Wilmett High School, Il., and attended Northwestern Military Academy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He attended Michigan State University, majoring in Agricultural Engineering, and while there he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Riker. They were married Jan. 31, 1942 in Pontiac, Michigan. During WWII, Fred served in the Army Air Corps.
Fred was always active in local United Methodist Churches, including Manchester UMC, Westside UMC, North Lake UMC, and Frankfort UMC. He was involved in Frankfort Kiwanis Club, Manchester Optimist Club, and Ann Arbor Masonic Lodge, and was active in Boy Scouts, as a cub scout, boy scout, and as a leader. He worked at Argus Camera, where he received patents for a film projector and a lens polishing process. Later he worked for AA Products in Manchester; was Vice President of Dairy Queen International, and finally retired from Malloy Lithographing, where he was Vice President in charge of Human Resources. After his retirement, Mary Jane and Fred enjoyed their retirement home on the Platte River. He is remembered by his family and friends as a fair-minded gentleman with unquestionable principles.
Survivors include two children, F. Steve (Betty) Leeman of Chelsea, Mary Lou (Richard) Rigg of Chelsea; four grandchildren, Beth Ann (Darin) Anderson of Eldridge, Iowa; Scott Leeman of Chelsea, Mary Elizabeth (Jon) Oesterle of Chelsea, and John F. Rigg of Ann Arbor; five great-grandchildren, Andrew, Brett, Matthew and Nathan Anderson, and Sumner Oesterle. He was preceded in death by his wife on Jan.14, 2012, his grandmother, Mable Hoffman, and his parents.
Funeral services wre held Wednesday, March 28, 2:00 pm at Cole Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Kathy Schell officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Chelsea. The family received friends Tuesday 2-4 & 6-8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Frankfort United Methodist Church, 537 Crystal Avenue, P.O. Box 1010, Frankfort, MI 49635 or the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bingham Farms, MI 48025-5819.