Fred Burlingame

Frederick Homer Burlingame, age 77, of Wadena passed away at his home, in Wadena, on March 29, 2009. He was born to Homer and Gladys (Schmaus) Burlingame on May 10, 1931 in Pine Point Township of Becker County, MN Fred was raised on the North Ponsford Prairie. He attended grade school at Round Lake Country School and graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1950. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in April 1951. While in the service he was united in marriage with Diane Larson of Fertile, on April 6, 1957 in Minneapolis. He served in Japan, Germany, and Alaska. Stateside bases included Hutchinson, KS, Oseola, WI, Wadena, and Dolphin Island, AL. He retired while at Baudette in May 1971 as a T-SGT. Fred was very proud of his 20 years of military service. He attended Pipestone Vocational School for meat cutting and worked for Don’s Red Owl in Wadena and then in the Moorhead and Crookston areas. IN 1977 he moved to Crookston where he was employed as a manager at the VFW Post. Fred moved back to Wadena in 1999 to be closer to his wife, Diane, whom he visited daily in the Ottertail Nursing Home. He was a very loving and caring husband and father. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, deer hunting with his son and grandsons, and teaching and passing on his meat cutting expertise to family and friends. His great love and enjoyment was attending most of the seasons events of the WDC Wolverines participating in hockey, cross-country, and track. He was a lifetime fan of the MN Twins and Golden Gopher Hockey. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and doing jigsaw puzzles. He was a lifetime member of the Wadena VFW Post and Air Force Sargents Association, American Legion, Knobhill Sportmans Club, and St. John Lutheran Church. Fred was preceded in death by his wife Diane in December 2002; his parents Homer and Gladys; brothers, John, Jim, and Robert; and sister, Lois. He is survived by son, Paul (Chris Ross) Burlingame of Crookston; daughter, Ann (Eldon) Immonen of Wadena; grandchildren, Angela & Rebecca Immonen and Lyle & Aaron Burlingame; brothers, George (Donna) of Stanwood, WA, Donald (Linda) of Odessa, TX, Ray (Ginny) of Hilton, NY, and Dwight (Audrey) of Indianapolis, IN; and sisters, Jean Luhman of Moorhead, Lola Christianson of Ponsford, Barbara Frazier of Detroit Lakes, and Elaine (Larry) Nelson of Albuquerque, NM Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 3, 2009 in the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena with Pastor William Stockman officiating. Pallbearers will be Angela Eull, Rebecca Immonen, Lyle Burlingame, Aaron Burlingame, Michael Eull, Levi Kneisl, David Christianson, and Terry Burlingame. Interment will be in the Wadena Cemetery.

Fred Burlingame

May 10, 1931 - March 29, 2009