Fred Marckel
Age - 93
December 5, 2023
Frederick Daniel Marckel, age 93, of Ayersville, Ohio passed away peacefully at CHP Hospice Center in Defiance on December 4, 2023 from complications of pneumonia.
Fred was born on October 25, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Arnold and Florence (Smolenske) Marckel. He attended Ayersville High School until his senior year and graduated from Defiance High School in 1950. Fred was a United States Army veteran, serving as a Decoder from 1953 to 1955 in France and Germany. After returning from overseas, he was employed at General Motors Foundry in Defiance in plant security for over 31 years, retiring in 1986. He was a volunteer firefighter for Richland Township for several years. He and his four sons also had a home insulation business for 25 years.
In Fred's early years, he was raised on a farm where he milked cows and performed other chores every morning before school. This helped to establish his strong work ethic, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. Fred was known for his large vegetable garden he grew each year. In fact, he sold produce for several years at a roadside stand he operated out of his garage. However, he most enjoyed giving away his produce, including strawberries, peaches, tomatoes, squash, watermelon and pecans. Many people don't believe pecan trees can grow in Ohio, but he has proved them wrong with his 85 pecan trees on the property and his bountiful harvest every year. He could always be counted on to bake pies and cookies for church functions and get-togethers with family and friends. Fred's specialty was pecan pie, using his home grow pecans and his secret recipe (which he enjoyed sharing with anyone who asked). There were always a couple of pies sitting on the counter at home, waiting to be shared with anyone who visited. If you got one of Fred's pies, you got a special treat. At Christmas time, everyone looked forward to his anise cookies and Holly Hermits. He also had quite a knack for grafting trees. All of his peach trees were the result of grafting. People would come from miles around to ask him how he did it and he delighted in showing them how. He was an avid outdoorsman for all seasons, enjoying deer hunting, fishing and trapping. For many years, he would travel "up north" to Michigan for two weeks with a good group of friends where they would fish for perch and hunt for grouse. Every year he loved deer hunting with his sons and grandsons. And, of course, he was always ready at a moment's notice to go fishing with his fishing buddies. He designed and built (with his own two hands) the two houses his family lived in. The first house was large enough for the family of seven. After the children moved out and he didn't need such a big house, he built a smaller house across the road. He was meticulous in the detail that went into each home.
It seemed he could fix anything that was broken (just ask the neighbors). Fixing was much better than buying new for Fred. He loved telling people how old something was and what he had to do to keep it working. Fred's life was one of love. . . his love of family, friends, God, country, hard work, nature and the outdoors. Fred knew his love had been returned in many ways by his family and friends over the years. Fred was a member of Ayersville Community Church, where he was a member of the "noodle crew". Fred served his community on the Ayersville Communications Board of Directors for nearly 30 years, retiring in June 2022. Fred married Bonnie (Miller) in 1952. Together they had five children and built a tight-knit family of seven that studied hard, worked hard and played hard. Bonnie passed away in 2005.
In 2007, Fred married Lucy (Rulman) Weaver. Lucy and Fred were an inseparable couple for sixteen years. Together they traveled to Alaska, went "up north", visited family and friends, hosted family gatherings, harvested the garden, picked strawberries, cooked the venison, fried the fish, worked puzzles and played cards. There was never any down time for the two of them. Fred is survived by his wife Lucy, children Linda (Guy Lammers) Marckel of Maumee, OH, Ron (Cheryl) Marckel of Sylvania, OH, Tom (Cinda) Marckel of Temperance, MI, Gary (Janette Michaels) Marckel of Lawrence, KS, Ken Marckel of Ayersville, OH, step-daughter Ann (Scott) Shevin of Bradenton, FL, thirteen grandchildren Andy (Laura) Marckel, Katie (Ray) Holston, Val (Noah) Allen, Molly Marckel, Jason Marckel, Ben (Annie) Marckel, Derek Marckel, Noel Worley, Jarrett Marckel, Isaiah Marckel, Chelsea Marckel, Mark Shevin, Ryan Shevin, fourteen great-grandchildren, sister Marilyn Ryan and brother-in-law Johnny Mohr. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and good friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Bonnie, sister Pat Dallape, brother-in-law Fred Dallape, brother-in-law John Ryan, and sister Joyce Mohr. Visitation will be held on Wednesday December 6 from 5-8 p. m. at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance, Ohio. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday December 7 at 11 a. m. at Ayersville Community Church in Ayersville with Rev. Jason Vandemark officiating. There will be visitation at the church from 10 to 11 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Ayersville Community Church or CHP Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center. Online condolences can be given at www. Schafferfh. com.
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