Frederick “Fred” Gottsleben, age 94, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Father Richard Fox will be the celebrant. The family is requested to meet at the church by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. The service will be live streamed via Crawford-Osthus’ Facebook page. Face coverings are encouraged.

 

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday, January 22, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. with a Scripture Wake Service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

 

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be conducted by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1054 and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Active pallbearers will be: Nickolas Gottsleben, Josh Wagner, Jeremy Boniface, Brett Denman, David Stehly and Jim Sutton.

 

Fred Gottsleben, son of Fred and Ida (Hanson) Gottsleben, was born on August 20, 1926, in Clark, SD. Halfway through his senior year of high school, he was drafted into the Army during World War II and served in the Philippines.

 

He married Claudia Samson on October 14, 1947. They were married for 73 years.

 

Before his retirement in 1990, he had worked for Old Home Bakery for 26 ½ years. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion Post #17, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.

 

Fred enjoyed his family, sporting events, dancing, friends, cards, gardening, traveling and camping.

 

Fred is survived by his wife, Claudia, of Watertown, SD; six children: Linda (Dave) Wagner of Milbank, SD, Wayne (Julie) Gottsleben of Brandon, SD, Pam Burns of Cornelius, NC, Mark Gottsleben of Watertown, SD, Todd (Cami) Gottsleben of Watertown, SD and David (Sheri) Gottsleben of Bloomington, MN; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and his brother, Bob Gottsleben of Montevideo, MN.

 

He was preceded in death by his sister, Beverly Amborn; granddaughter, Brittany Burns; and daughter-in-law, Karla Gottsleben.