Fred E. Roelfs

Fred Edwin Roelfs, 90, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away Friday, January 28, 2022, at Riverview Estates, Marquette, Kansas.

He was born February 14, 1931, in St. Francis, Kansas, the son of Theodore and Lula Roelfs.

Fred was a graduate of St. Francis High School, St. Francis, Kansas, 1949.

He was a surveyor for the construction of Bonny Dam in 1951. Fred enlisted in the Air Force in November 1951, and was a mechanic at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona.  He was honorably discharged in 1955.

In 1951, Fred married Phyllis Powell.  They had two sons, Ronald and Tom.  After Fred’s discharge from the service, they made their home in McPherson, Kansas.  He worked for Southwestern Bell as a lineman, continuing through AT&T’s buyout of the company.  After retirement, he was an independent telephone installation and repair technician.  

Fred married Virginia Pressnall in 1978.  She preceded him in death.

In 1991, Fred married Sharon Fuller Lucas.  

Fred was a member of First Christian Church, McPherson, where he sang in the choir and volunteered maintenance services for several years.  He also donated his time delivering Friendship Meals.  Monthly, Fred met with the Pioneers, a group of retired telephone employees, for food and conversation.  He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his sons and grandchildren. Fred was an avid golfer and talented woodworker.  Besides his faith, nothing mattered more to Fred than spending time with family.

Preceding Fred in death were his parents, his brothers, Harry, Bernard, Rowland, Raymond, and Rex, and a sister, Doris, his daughter-in-law, Donna, and granddaughter, Brianne Roelfs.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon; children, Ronald (Lisa) Roelfs of Commerce, Michigan and Tom (Kathy) Roelfs of Wellington, Colorado; grandchildren, Jeremy Roelfs, Trevor (Valene) Roelfs, Jonathan (Autumn) Roelfs, and Norman Roelfs; great-grandchildren, Duncan, Amelia, and Harper; stepchildren, Mike (Susie) Pressnall of Winfield, Kansas, Doug (Cindy) Pressnall, and Cheryl (Richard) Vincent, all of McPherson, Kansas, Tony (Orella) Lucas of Inman, Kansas, Vicki (Barry) Porter of Little River, Kansas, and Shandi (Scott) Lang of Fowler, Kansas, and several step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. 

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 AM at, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at First Christian Church, McPherson.  A private burial will immediately follow in Bean Memorial Cemetery, Little River.  To view a livestream broadcast of the service, please click on the following link: https://evt.live/fred-e-roelfs-celebration-of-life

Memorial donations may be given to First Christian Church of McPherson or McPherson Senior Center in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, Kansas 67460.