Edward J. Frederick

FREDERICK, EDWARD J OF GRETNA MAY 25, 1926---FEBRUARY 6, 2021 Ed Frederick was born, raised, and spent his entire life in Gretna.  Ed’s dedication to the community he loved and served made him a historical legend, an icon who helped shape Gretna. Ed demonstrated his love for his fellow Gretna citizens in how he lived serving his community.  The following are just a few examples of his service. Ed began his service to his Gretna neighbors in 1949 by joining the Gretna Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department where he served for 33 years.  During his time of service on the fire department he was both Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Chief. In 1954 and 1955 Ed served as Mayor.  He additionally served the City as City Clerk and held a seat on the City Council for several years.  Ed was President of the Gretna Civic Organization and an active member of the Gretna Optimist Club as well as a founding member of the Gretna Area Development Corporation An interesting fact of Ed’s service was that in 1954 he served as both Mayor and Chief of the Gretna Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. One of his most popular contributions to help shape Gretna was his role as co-founder of Gretna Days, which remains one of Gretna’s most popular community events. Ed was Citizen Of The Year twice, once in 1982 and again in 1995. In 1949, Ed and his brother Don Frederick formed a business relationship, a partnership of service to the Gretna Community with the opening of Frederick Brothers Grocery Store.  In 1965 the opened Gretna Bowl and Lounge and in 1979 built Village Square, which remains a center of Gretna commerce today. Ed’s greatest accomplishment was his self-sacrificing love for his family, which extended beyond his wife Phyllis, the love of his life and the three sons, Michael, Mark and Larry, that their love produced. Ed was always a good neighbor and friend, a true gentleman who was known as quite a character for his humor and love of fun, shared with all he knew.  Ed was a blessing to all who knew him, the kind of man you instantly fell in love with. Gretna is a better place today because of Ed Frederick PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS BELOVED WIFE PHYLLIS AND SON LARRY. SURVIVED BY SONS MICHAEL , MARK : AND DAUGHTER IN LAW MARGARET: AND RICHLY BLESSED WITH MANY, MANY GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, NIECES AND NEPHEWS WHOM HE LOVED DEARLY. VISITATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 FROM 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM AT SAINT PATRICKS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 508 WEST ANGUS STREET, GRETNA NE. FUNERAL SERVICE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 AT 10:00 AM AT SAINT PARTICKS CATHOLIC CHURCH. INTERMENT WITH BE A PRIVATE FAMILY SERVICE AT HOLY SEPULCHRE CEMETERY. FAMILY PREFERS MEMORIALS TO SAINT PATRICKS CATHOLIC CHURCH OR THE GRETNA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.   Roeder Mortuary – Gretna Chapel 11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE 402-332-0090 www.roedermortuary.com